Better for all if UK stays in the EU tent

As the country finally cobbles together a Government after months of dithering ‘will they won’t they’, one newly appointed junior minister’s major concern appears to be about relaxing the smoking ban in pubs and restaurants. That he is the junior health minister with specific responsibility for disability makes it all the more surreal.

There are major long-standing fundamental issues to be resolved that affect hundreds of thousands of people and here we have one minister expressing concern about having a fag when he goes for a pint or a nibble.

Has nobody told the man that particular horse has long bolted? Now is not the time for denial.