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.”

And a spokesperson for Chancellor Gordon Brown said he had decided that creating a level playing field was “the most sensible thing to do”.

But Mr Brown had earlier indicated he backed sticking to the manifesto pledge, understood to have been crafted by Defence Secretary John Reid when he held the health brief.

The policy is thought to have been the subject of intense argument within the cabinet, with current Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt arguing for a more extensive bar on cigarette smoking.

She argued for the partial ban as the Health Bill went through the Commons but changed her stance once the free vote was allowed.

Labour’s manifesto promised a partial ban, but MPs were freed from the shackles of the party whip when it became clear the government faced near-certain defeat.

Pressure from anti-smoking and health groups was amplified by an influential committee which said total prohibition was the “only effective means” of protecting public health.

The vote came as the government announced a massive rise in the maximum fine for failing to stop people smoking in banned areas.

Health Minister Caroline Flint said they would go up by more than 10 times to £2,500 (€3,643) from £200.

Spot fines of £200 will also be introduced for failing to display no-smoking signs, with the possible penalty if the issue goes to court increasing fivefold to £1,000.

Dr Vivienne Nathanson, head of ethics and science at the British Medical Association, welcomed last night’s result. She said: “We are delighted that MPs have opted to put the lives and health of their constituents first and vote for a total ban on smoking in all enclosed public places in England.

"Every day around 30 people die in the UK as a result of second-hand smoke. Today’s vote will mean the beginning of the end to these frightening statistics.”