MPs vote for blanket smoking ban for England

A BLANKET ban on smoking in pubs and private clubs in England and Wales was approved last night by a massive margin in the House of Commons.

Prime Minister Tony Blair joined those using a “free” vote to overturn his own government’s policy of exempting private clubs and pubs that do not serve food.

Downing Street said Mr Blair had been convinced by the arguments that it was “the right thing to do.”