The idea
Carrying of small penknives (say a blade less than 3cm with no point) should be allowed.
Why is it important?
Small penknives are no more lethal than a maliciously handled propelling pencil and to lump them in with hunting knives and tell people who want to carry them that they will be subject to a mandatory prison sentence risks bringing law and order into disrupte and possibly criminalising otherwise good citizens.
Such small "Swiss Army" style knives might provide:
- A small blade for letter opening and sharpening pencils
- A small pair of scissors for cutting paper and sellotape
- A nail file (might stop certain ex PMs biting their nails)
- A toothpick
- A small pair of tweezers for removing splinters
- etc.
They also make good promotional gifts (which is how I got mine)
I don't really see why you cannot carry them onto aircraft – given that you can take on propelling pencils!