No ifs... No butts: mp's vote for total smoking ban

By Bob Roberts, Deputy Political Editor 

SMOKERS were last night banished to the streets and their own homes after MPs voted overwhelmingly for a total public ban. The only other places where they will be allowed to light up are in a prison, care home or barracks.

The ban in pubs and clubs was hailed by medical experts as "the most important advance in public health for 50 years". But there were fears that it could spell closure for hundreds of private members' clubs - such as working men's clubs and the British Legion - which the Government wanted exempted. The ban will be backed up with hugely increased fines of up to £2,500 for licensees who allow people to light up. Smokers who flout the law will face a £50 on-the-spot fine.

MPs cheered as last night's historic votes were announced in a packed Commons. They decided by 384 to 184 to make lighting up illegal in all of England's 124,066 pubs, clubs and restaurants from summer 2007. They had earlier voted by 453 to 125 to throw out the Government's original idea of banning smoking only in pubs which served food. It will also be outlawed in all offices, factories and other workplaces. Even Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt went against their original policy and backed the total ban.

Labour's manifesto had promised a partial ban but MPs were allowed a free vote when it became clear the Government faced near certain defeat. Downing Street said Mr Blair had been convinced by the arguments that it was "the right thing to do". A spokesman for Mr Brown said he had decided creating a level playing field was "the most sensible thing". Ms Hewitt told MPs during the debate: "This Bill marks a huge step forward for public health. "It will make smoke-free the norm. It will protect non-smokers from passive smoking. It will make it easier for smokers to give up. It will save thousands of people's lives."

Professor Alex Markham, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: "This is the most important advance in public health since Sir Richard Doll identified that smoking causes lung cancer 50 years ago. "One bar worker a week dies from exposure to second-hand smoke. Smokers do have the right to smoke but not at the expense of other people's health."

Peter Hollins, of the British Heart Foundation, said: "This is a landmark victory for the health of this country." Dr Vivienne Nathanson, of the British Medical Association, said: "Every day around 30 people die in the UK as a result of second-hand smoke. This will mean the beginning of the end to these frightening statistics." Regulars at Trimdon Labour Club in the heart of Mr Blair's Sedgefield constituency were against the ban. Mark Street said: "The Liberal Democrats wouldn't have taken our fags off us. In a club like this you should be allowed to smoke."

Manager Paul Trippett said: "A lot of smaller clubs and pubs could go under because of this. People should be allowed to make up their own minds." George Dawson, secretary of the West Yorkshire branch of the Working Men's Club and Institute Union, said: "That will shut half the clubs down, definitely." Bob Watts, manager of the Royal British Legion club in Dulwich, South London, said clubs would fight the ban. He added: "If this goes through it will close this club and many others across the country. It's just completely wrong."

Outside the posh Reform Club in London one member said: "It's a bloody disgrace. There's no way I'll be abiding by that." But another said: "I'm delighted, absolutely thrilled. It will improve the atmosphere no end." At the Royal Automobile Club a member said: "I'm not outraged. We'll have to stick to it." But another went in brandishing a packet of cigarettes and saying: "Well I'm still doing it."

Labour MP Bob Wareing said: "I voted for a partial ban in accordance with the manifesto. The Prime Minister and Chief Whip flouted the manifesto. "When I am next accused of flouting the manifesto, as I was last night over identity cards, I shall not hesitate to point this out to them." Smoker MP Stephen Pound said: "I am going to find it very hard to explain this to the Royal British Legion in my constituency. You cannot make something disappear by banning it."

Tory health spokesman Andrew Lansley said Ministers had performed a spectacular "handbrake turn". "We have the humiliation of the Health Secretary voting against her own legislation. Never has a Minister argued for a measure then voted against it." Lib Dem health spokesman Steve Webb said: "This is good news for tens of thousands of bar staff."

Joe Jackson, of pro-smoking group Forest, said: "What about pleasure, freedom of choice, civil rights? "Health is important but putting doctors in charge of public policy is like putting plumbers in charge of architecture."

Anti-smoking group ASH said: "The next steps are to tighten up where cigarettes can be sold."

In Scotland a full ban comes into effect next month. In Northern Ireland there will be a full ban from April 2007. And in Wales a full ban is also planned.

FACTS & AND FIGS ON CIGS

I'M FUMING

Says Mirror columnist Sue Carroll

I'VE been smoking in the last-drag saloon for so long now a total ban on my pleasure really shouldn't come as too much of a surprise. But don't think I'm adopting a philosophical attitude, I'm not. I'm furious, incandescent with rage and heartfelt sick. No, not at the prospect of never being able to smoke a cigarette in a restaurant again, or a pub or even a private club.

Stuff that, one of the more positive aspects of this ban is that I now don't need to waste money on the hospitality industry with their indifferent service and overpriced dodgy menus.

What riles me is that as part of this government's manifesto the deal was a partial ban. They lied. Secondly that we, the British public have laid down, rolled over and allowed our liberty to be taken away. What you drink comes next. Times don't come more wretched than this.

I'M PLEASED

Says Mirror Irish Editor John Kierans

I USED  to smoke like a trooper and when the ban was introduced in Ireland in March  2004 it terrified me. I always liked a cigarette with my pint and couldn't imagine life without it. At first this cafe culture sprang up with chairs outside pubs where smokers could sit. Non-smoking guys would go out just to chat up the women smokers and a lively smoking scene developed.

It was okay in summer but going out in the rain and cold was hard. The ban motivated me to stop and did the same for a lot of my friends. It encourages you to really think about how bad it is for your health.

Having given up, it was so much easier not to have a cigarette in a smoke-free environment. It's the best thing that ever happened in Ireland in terms of public health. To go into a pub and breath in fresh air is refreshing. It brings home how terrible it must have been, especially for non-smokers, before the ban.

Questions and Tasks:

1. Smoking ban infringes people’s right. Don’t you agree?

2. People have been smoking since ancient times, this habit cannot be perished. What is your opinion? Why smoking has always been so popular?

3. Everyone must decide for themselves to smoke or not. Why should the government press on people?

4. Cigarettes today are less dangerous than drugs or alcohol – so why is there so much fuss about it?