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Sir Tony Blair introduced a ban on indoor smoking in 2007 as one of his final acts as prime minister, and no government since has sought to overturn it.
The move has reportedly sparked tensions among cabinet ministers, with the Ministry of Business concerned about the damage it could inflict on the hospitality sector, which has already been hit by the lockdown.
Sir Keir Starmer decided to press ahead with the outdoor ban, which was supported by Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty, the newspaper reported.
Supporters will claim that the economic benefits will outweigh any costs, as the practice costs taxpayers £21.8 billion a year in health costs.
A 2020 government press release noted that a ban on outdoor smoking would lead to the closure of many hospitality venues and trigger layoffs.
“Businesses have invested heavily in outdoor areas since the current ban was introduced,” the report said. “Banning outdoor smoking would result in significant business closures and job losses.”
The NHS warns that passive smoking is particularly harmful to children, who may develop asthma, chest infections and meningitis.
The government’s goal is to make England a “smoke-free nation” by 2030, meaning only 5% of the population will smoke by then.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “We do not comment on leaks. Smoking kills 80,000 people every year, puts huge pressure on our NHS and costs taxpayers billions.”
“We are determined to protect children and non-smokers from the dangers of second-hand smoke. We are considering a range of measures to make the UK a smoke-free country.”
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