From Finest Hour to a nation of snitches

"The day will come when the joybells will ring again throughout Europe, and when victorious nations, masters not only of their foes but of themselves, will plan and build in justice, in tradition, and in freedom a house of many mansions where there will be room for all."

But no "mansions" for smokers:

The Evening News website revealed yesterday that the actor, who is playing Winston Churchill in the Fringe show Allegiance, had abandoned his plans to breach the smoking ban and light up on stage as part of his performance as the cigar-smoking Prime Minister after council officials threatened to shut down the Assembly Rooms, where the play was being performed.

I seem to recall that statist fanatics have threatened us before:

"Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous States have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail."

We didn't flag or fail, and now Britain is free.

Or is it:

...the council is to investigate the latest incident, at the Assembly Rooms on George Street yesterday, when Smith posed for photographs after the show. He could be liable for a £50 personal fixed penalty fine if he is found to have broken the rules.

At one time public spokesmen were eloquent:

"We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender"

Over the top, perhaps?

No such problem today:

A spokeswoman for Edinburgh City Council said that although his head and upper body were outside of the window, leaning out of a room where smoking is forbidden would not technically get around the ban - which prohibits smoking in enclosed public places.

This was the message of Britain's Finest Hour:

"Tyranny is our foe, whatever trappings or disguise it wears, whatever language it speaks, be it external or internal, we must forever be on our guard, ever mobilised, ever vigilant, always ready to spring at its throat. In all this, we march together. Not only do we march and strive shoulder to shoulder at this moment under the fire of the enemy on the fields of war or in the air, but also in those realms of thought which are consecrated to the rights and the dignity of man."

And now?

A nation of snitches:

Instead, council workers plan to rely on members of the public telling them if actors are smoking real cigarettes or cigars on stage and make complaints if they feel the rules are being broken.

Shameful.