Oh dear. It appears that Sir Keir Starmer’s own MPs are rather unhappy about the Prime Minister’s proposed smoking ban that would see a crackdown in beer gardens and shisha bars – so much so that one has even tabled a motion to oppose it. Talk about trouble in paradise…
It transpires that Mary Glindon, MP for Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend, has launched a bid to fight back against Starmer’s ban – warning that the move would be rather detrimental to the nighttime economy. Not that Labour’s night czar hasn’t done enough on that front already…
The Newcastle politician insists the ban will:
Unduly restrict individual liberty where second-hand smoking dangers are negligible, drive some and maybe many pubs out of business and undermine the night-time economy; and urges the Government not to proceed with this option and, if it does, to allow a free vote on the proposal.
Glindon has praised the 2007 indoor smoking ban but is rather opposed to further constraints – and Mr S hears she’s not the only one. How curious. The decision comes as part of Sir Keir’s crackdown on fun, which also includes blocking junk food advertisements before 9pm – a move that will be enforced by October 2025. All work, no play…
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