Politics
Lucy Powell Emphasizes Outdoor Smoking Ban Aims to Benefit Public Health, Not Hurt Hospitality Industry
Lucy Powell, the Labour Party's leader in the House of Commons, has asserted that proposals to prohibit smoking in outdoor areas of pubs are not intended to harm the hospitality sector. She argued that eliminating smoking in these spaces could have positive effects on both public health and the economy, as well as on the National Health Service (NHS).
Political correspondent @fayebrownSky
Sunday, September 1, 2024, 11:
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A cabinet minister has strenuously denied that the government's proposed plans to prohibit smoking in pub gardens represent an attack on the hospitality sector.
During an interview on Sky News' Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips, Lucy Powell expressed Labour's ambition to establish a "smoke-free country." She noted that any actions taken towards this goal would be conducted in collaboration with potentially impacted businesses.
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The recently formed administration had committed to reviving Rishi Sunak's key tobacco legislation, designed to prohibit the sale of cigarettes to individuals who were 14 or younger at the time of the enactment, although it had been put on hold prior to the electoral process.
This week, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer indicated that he might extend the ban to include smoking at outdoor venues as well, aiming to decrease the preventable deaths associated with tobacco use.
When questioned on the notion that this action might devastate businesses, Ms. Powell responded, "We are definitely not targeting the hospitality sector. We stand behind it fully as it is crucial for our local communities, our main streets, and our economy."
"I won't speculate on the specifics of upcoming legislation, but I will emphasize that any efforts to broaden regulations concerning smoking will involve thorough discussions with the hospitality sector."
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SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn has described the proposed smoking ban as a distraction tactic, used to shift attention away from Labour's narrative of austerity and pessimism.
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She mentioned that there has been a longstanding agreement on the goal of achieving a smoke-free nation, noting that the health and economic advantages would be significant.
Annually, smoking is responsible for approximately 80,000 deaths and is estimated to burden the NHS in England with costs of around £2.6 billion each year.
Health advocates have greeted the new proposals with approval, but key figures in the hospitality industry caution that these could deliver a devastating blow, especially after the challenges of the pandemic and the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Sir Keir mentioned that the prohibition might extend to include beer garden areas, outdoor dining venues, external sports facilities, hospitals, nightclubs, and select small parks.
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Kate Nicholls, the head of UKHospitality, warned that this poses a significant economic threat to hospitality venues, which have made substantial investments in outdoor areas and are still dealing with financial difficulties.
Michael Kill, the chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, posed the question: "Are we approaching the threshold of a nanny state? What will follow?"
"While these initiatives are likely based on concerns for public health, they potentially create division among people and add more regulatory requirements for businesses that are already dealing with significant difficulties."
Several Tory MPs have expressed their opposition to the initiative, even though they have suggested their own measures to reduce smoking among the youth. Shadow Health Secretary Victoria Atkins shared on X, "Our goal is to shield our kids from starting smoking and vaping. Our legislation for a smoke-free generation was crafted with this purpose in mind.
"Our intention was never to prevent adults from smoking outdoors. Yet, Labour's actions could potentially jeopardize our hospitality industry."
Reform leader Nigel Farage informed a newspaper that he would "never visit a pub again if smoking outside was prohibited."
In 2007, the previous Labour administration implemented a prohibition on smoking within pubs and various other indoor public areas.
According to Action on Smoking Health (ASH), there was a 2.4% decrease in hospital admissions for heart attacks and a 12.3% decrease in hospital admissions for childhood asthma within one year.
ASH has expressed their backing for the government's initiatives, emphasizing the necessity for designated outdoor areas for smokers to help deter indoor smoking.
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