According to the RBL letter I received a couple of weeks ago the "Poppy Appeal" Launch Date was the 24th October but poppies should not be on sale until the 27th (Today). Every year the BBC announcers and Politicians get their's on as early as possible .... In the case of the BBC I suspect the props department ensure all announcers are wearing them and as for MPs there is little doubt that they claim the cost of theirs back on expenses.