Cancer Research makes final push for total smoking ban

A health charity and national union have made a final impassioned plea for MPs to Stub out Smoking and back a total ban in England.

Ahead of Tuesday's final vote in the House of Commons, which will decide if a ban on smoking in pubs and private members clubs is introduced, Cancer Research has sent a fake cigarette packet to MPs.

The box is marked up with fictitious brand "Your Choice" and is intended to bring home the life-saving impact a total ban would have.

The Transport and Workers' Union (T&G) has also made a final plea to get a total ban introduced.

Pauline Robinson, member of the T&G executive council, said: "The potential negative impacts on customer numbers brought about by a ban would be counteracted by lower decoration and cleaning costs, reduced insurance premiums and an increased number of families and children in pubs."

Although most commentators are agreed pubs will lose their exemption from the smoking ban at Tuesday's vote, the race to do the same at private members clubs remains extremely tight.

A report in the Times today suggests MPs will not have the courage to ban smoking in private members' clubs and will instead grant them the right to choose, a decision that will anger the pub lobby which fears lost business as a result.

Vote on smoking ban could go either way >>

By Chris Druce

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