out of condition, overweight and a chain smoker

Walking your talk counts for a lot if you want to be credible and if you want someone to listen to a word you say! The UK government Health Minister Simon Burns knows exactly what we mean after enduring a humiliating dressing down from Labour MP Barry Sheerman.

The comments made in the House of Commons to Health Secretary Andrew Lansley referred to Mr. Burns by asking whether it was "appropriate" for constituents in Huddersfield to be lectured to regarding healthy lifestyles by a government member who was "out of condition, overweight and a chain smoker".

After the comment was made all eyes turned to Mr. Burns who took the jibe in good stead and merely smiled. His colleague Andrew Lansley replied by saying that he was not going to lecture anybody but was more interesting in leading a public health strategy to improve the health of the nation.

You will find that if you are a smoker and you try to give people quit smoking advice nobody will take any notice of you but if you have rid yourself of your smoking addiction you'll notice that smokers hang on to every word you say.

Peer pressure and setting a good example play a huge part in getting people to quit and having a Health Minister in the United Kingdom who is a smoker is just plain stupid. Any Health Minister should also understand the importance of exercise and healthy eating and with all due respect to Mr. Burns he should be a walking embodiment of good health and lifestyle.

David Cameron should give Mr. Burns three months to quit smoking and get into shape and if he can't comply he should be given the sack. This might sound harsh but the UK has a chronic health problem with both smoking and obesity and the taxpayer cannot afford to have ministers who are not 100 percent committed to dealing with these issues.