Starmer plots OUTDOOR smoking ban
Smoking is set to be banned in pub gardens, a leaked report has revealed – as well as outside football grounds and in children’s parks.
Nightclub smoking areas, restaurant terraces and even shisha bans could all be axed in shock new plans by Keir Starmer‘s Labour government.
Pavements by universities and hospitals are also expected to be smoke-free zones, according to secred Whitehall papers seen by The Sun.
It comes under a bill that was first introduced by Rishi Sunak – which was a plan to phase out all smoking. But the King’s Speech made no mention of an outdoor ban.
Brits will still be allowed to smoke in their own homes and large open spaces, like streets and parks.
The shock move is expected to spark fury towards Starmer’s party – with criticism of ‘nanny state’ politics and memos from the Business Department already warning the hospitality sector could be hit.
Nightclub smoking areas, restaurant terraces and even shisha bans could all be axed in shock new plans by Keir Starmer ‘s Labour government
The shock move is expected to spark fury towards Starmer’s party – with criticism of ‘nanny state’ politics and memos from the Business Department already warning the hospitality sector could be hit
A recent impact assessment has even found that banning smoking outdoors could cost jobs and force even more pubs to close, the tabloid reports.
But amid rising fears as to the effect cigarettes could have on the nation’s health, it is reported that the Prime Minister is set to press forward with the bill.
He is said to have the backing of Chief Medical officer Professor Chris Whitty, while ministers will argue that the economic benefits outweigh its potential costs.
Ministers are expected to claim smoking costs £21.8billion in health spending, and will hark back to Tony Blair’s ban on public smoking in 2007.
A public consultation will be launched over the ban, but this is not expected to sway the radical plans.
A Department for Health and Social Care spokesperson told The Sun: ‘We do not comment on leaks.
It comes just months after the House of Commons overwhelmingly approved the second reading of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, inching the government closer to enforcing in law that anyone born after January 1 2009 would never be able to legally buy cigarettes.
It was planned to give the Government powers to tackle youth vaping, with restrictions on flavours and new rules on packaging and selling vapes.
‘Smoking claims 80,000 lives a year, puts huge pressure on our NHS and costs taxpayers billions.
‘We are determined to protect children and non-smokers from second-hand smoking. We’re considering a range of measures to finally make Britain smoke-free.’
This is a breaking story, more to follow.
