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Complete smoking ban in UK
Stubbed out! Smoking ban from next summer
07:46am 15th February 2006 News channel RSS feed What is RSS? Comments Reader comments (219) Smoking in pub Smoking: Will be outlawed in pubs and clubs Smoking in all pubs, clubs, restaurants and workplaces will be outlawed by summer next year. MPs voted by a massive majority last night to go way beyond Tony Blair's original plan for a partial ban. People caught lighting up will face £50 spot fines and premises that allow smoking will be fined up to £2,500. The only bars exempt willl be those serving MPs in the Palace of Westminster, which classes as a royal palace. Is the ban a healthy move or an attack on our civil liberties? Tell us in reader comments below Campaigners hailed the move as the greatest advance in public health for 50 years. Professor Alex Markham, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: "Today's vote will protect thousands of workers and save many lives." Smoking will also be banned in cinemas and other public places classed as "enclosed". Ministers have yet to decide whether that will cover sports grounds, train platforms and bus shelters. In the final twist in a long-running row, the Commons rejected the partial pub ban proposed in Labour's election manifesto last year. Senior Labour MPs rubbished the idea that pubs not serving food should be exempt. A vote on whether to ban smoking in all pubs was carried by 453 to 125, a massive majority of 328. MPs then voted for prohibition to be extended to private members' clubs like golf clubs by 384 votes to 184, a majority of 200. In a startling about-turn, the Prime Minister himself voted for all-out prohibition, as did most of the Cabinet - Labour MPs were allowed a free vote. A Downing Street spokesman said Mr Blair had been "convinced by the arguments in favour of a complete ban." On a chaotic day at Westminster, Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt also performed a complete U-turn. In the morning she said there was a "very strong argument" for a limited exemption for private members' clubs. By the time she reached the Commons, she had decided the arguments were "very finely balanced". In the end, she joined her junior minister Caroline Flint backing a total ban, declaring after the vote: "This is going to save thousands of lives. It's equivalent to the introduction of seatbelts in cars." Cabinet Ministers Gordon Brown, Charles Clarke, Hilary Armstrong, Peter Hain, Alistair Darling, Ian McCartney, David Miliband, Hilary Benn, Margaret Beckett, Des Browne and Geoff Hoon all voted not to exempt private clubs from the ban. Almost the only places where the law will not apply will be the bars serving MPs and peers, it emerged last night. The Palace of Westminster is classed as a Royal palace, and therefore exempt. The vote will bring England in line with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, which have all moved towards banning smoking in all enclosed public places. But opposition MPs called the Government's handling of the issue a "shambles". Labour's "nannying" tendency has long favoured an all-out ban, but some in the party - including Defence Secretary John Reid - were unhappy at barring smoking in such venues as working men's clubs, fearing it will cost Labour dear in its heartlands. In a sign of Mr Blair's diminishing authority, Downing Street was forced to back down in the face of a public squabble between Cabinet Ministers and a mounting revolt among backbenchers. Last night's result suggested that the Prime Minister - who faces another knife-edge division on new terror laws today - would have lost if he had tried to press ahead with a partial ban. Liberal Democrat spokesman Steve Webb pointed to "a lack of leadership". He said: "The Government has tried to discern public opinion, sought to follow it, then realised it is running behind public opinion and is now trying to play catch up. This is no way to set a health policy." Health campaigners had argued that only a blanket ban would protect all workers from passive smoking and help thousands kick the habit. Leisure companies also wanted total prohibition, complaining that a partial ban would give an unfair advantage to places where smoking was still allowed. The only workplaces exempted will be residential care homes, jails, hotel bedrooms and private homes with staff such as nannies. Most offices are already smokefree because of concerns about prosecutions under existing health and safety legislation. But the new law will consign "smoking rooms" to history and make lighting up illegal. The new Health Bill also proposes giving ministers the right to raise the minimum cigarette-buying age from 16 to 18. Mr Blair came under heavy fire from some of his own MPs for voting against Labour's manifesto. Of the Cabinet, only John Reid, John Hutton, Ruth Kelly, Tessa Jowell, Alan Johnson and John Prescott backed the partial ban. Labour MP Bob Wareing said: "When I am next accused of flouting the manifesto - as I was last night over ID cards - I shall not hesitate to point this out to them." John Grogan, Labour chairman of the all-party Parliamentary beer group, said an exemption for clubs would have been "unworkable". The Selby MP said: "No one would suggest the minimum wage or health and safety legislation should not apply to clubs." But Labour MP Stephen Pound doubted whether the move would be effective. On a recent visit to Dublin, he said, he had seen pavements outside pubs "covered with patio heaters and armchairs". Comment Add your comment | View all Reader comments (219) 219 people have commented on this story so far. Tell us what you think below! Here's a sample of the latest comments published. You can click view all to read all comments that readers have sent in. Finally ! England comes in line with many other Countries. It will now be a pleasure to visit a pub and/or restaurant etc. and not have to contend with cigarette smoke. However, I really think the ban ought to be followed in the Palace of Westminster too - if the ban is good for the public then it should be good for the MP's also..... - Annie, Jasper, Alberta Having just come from a bar with 23 people using the smoking area and zero using the non smoking area, I realise a change is coming. The pubs will be full of non smokers, many of whom can shelter from the effects of driving their cars - which are killing the planet - whilst driving the smokers outside to breath in THEIR fumes... - Peter Sowerby, Croydon, Great Britain At last this Govt. has done something constructive which isn't before time. I absolutely abhor cigarette smoke and hate my hair and clothes stinking of it. I will at last be able to enter a public place and actually be able to breathe in fresh air and when I return home keep my clothes on after I close my front door! |
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Complete smoking ban in UK
This is a newsgroup about travel in Asia.
If you have an axe to grind about a unrelated issue which is a personal hang-up, take it elsewhere. Cheers, Pete Loud Maps of here there and everywhere ;-) www.peteloud.co.uk |
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Complete smoking ban in UK
"Pete Loud" wrote in message ... This is a newsgroup about travel in Asia. If you have an axe to grind about a unrelated issue which is a personal hang-up, take it elsewhere. Cheers, Pete Loud Maps of here there and everywhere ;-) www.peteloud.co.uk Given the huge numbers of people who travel from Asia to Britain and Europe I would have thought that something like smoking in public is a significant issue to them. Its not irrelevant. At least with this posting if they read these ngs and this was posted to 4 ngs they are now aware of it. |
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Complete smoking ban in UK
In article ,
says... This is a newsgroup about travel in Asia. If you have an axe to grind about a unrelated issue which is a personal hang-up, take it elsewhere. I found the post interesting (and good news by the way). You should write complaint posts to those who spam rta. -- Alfred Molon http://www.molon.de - 6500 photos of Asia, Africa and Europe |
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Complete smoking ban in UK
I repeat, this is a newsgroup, and the others in this cross posting, about
travel and culture in S.E. Asia. You may be interested in smoking in UK, indeed others might too, but if you have an axe to grind about a unrelated issue which is a personal hang-up, take it elsewhere. Cheers, Pete Loud "Graham Justice" wrote in message ... "Pete Loud" wrote in message ... This is a newsgroup about travel in Asia. If you have an axe to grind about a unrelated issue which is a personal hang-up, take it elsewhere. Cheers, Pete Loud Maps of here there and everywhere ;-) www.peteloud.co.uk Given the huge numbers of people who travel from Asia to Britain and Europe I would have thought that something like smoking in public is a significant issue to them. Its not irrelevant. At least with this posting if they read these ngs and this was posted to 4 ngs they are now aware of it. |
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Complete smoking ban in UK
That you find smoking in UK good news or bad news is irrelevant to
newsgroups about S.E. Asia, and I do complain to people who spam rta. Cheers, Pete Loud http://users.powernet.co.uk/mkmarina/photos/photos.html - a few dozen photographs of Asia & Europe "Alfred Molon" wrote in message ... In article , says... This is a newsgroup about travel in Asia. If you have an axe to grind about a unrelated issue which is a personal hang-up, take it elsewhere. I found the post interesting (and good news by the way). You should write complaint posts to those who spam rta. -- Alfred Molon http://www.molon.de - 6500 photos of Asia, Africa and Europe |
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Complete smoking ban in UK
Graham Justice wrote: "Pete Loud" wrote in message ... This is a newsgroup about travel in Asia. If you have an axe to grind about a unrelated issue which is a personal hang-up, take it elsewhere. Cheers, Pete Loud Maps of here there and everywhere ;-) www.peteloud.co.uk Given the huge numbers of people who travel from Asia to Britain and Europe I would have thought that something like smoking in public is a significant issue to them. Its not irrelevant. At least with this posting if they read these ngs and this was posted to 4 ngs they are now aware of it. This group is about travel **TO** asia, not travel from asia. Post to rec.travel.europe for anyone interested in GB travels. |
#8
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Complete smoking ban in UK
"Alfred Molon" wrote in message
... I found the post interesting (and good news by the way). You should write complaint posts to those who spam rta. So, Deckard's Thai-Chinese whore will not travel to England to "smoke (give a blowjob to)" Takin Gthe**** after all. Our little hero Harold in his wheelchair, will remain living without knowing what a female is and will need to call his big Afro-Amerikkans with their baseball bat's to abuse his arse(hole) again. -- Alfred Molon http://www.molon.de - 6500 photos of Asia, Africa and Europe _________________________________________ Usenet Zone Free Binaries Usenet Server More than 140,000 groups Unlimited download http://www.usenetzone.com to open account |
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Complete smoking ban in UK
"Pete Loud" proclaimed...
That you find smoking in UK good news or bad news is irrelevant to newsgroups about S.E. Asia, and I do complain to people who spam rta. Shame the USAnians can't stop themselves boring us rigid with their stuff, though . . . . . _______ Geoff B |
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Complete smoking ban in UK
I support the banning of smoking around the globe.
It'll save the environment and health of non-smokers. Smokers are an inconsiderate lot. The only place they should be allowed to smoke is in their own homes. And they should close all the windows and breathe in their own smoke. Yes, that will save them some money too. "Pete Loud" wrote in message ... This is a newsgroup about travel in Asia. If you have an axe to grind about a unrelated issue which is a personal hang-up, take it elsewhere. Cheers, Pete Loud Maps of here there and everywhere ;-) www.peteloud.co.uk |
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