No 10 holds back ban on outdoor smoking

Downing Street is blocking moves to include a ban on smoking outdoors in the government's upcoming tobacco and vapes bill, amid fierce opposition from the hospitality trade.

- Pippa CrerarDenis Campbell

No 10 officials privately believe banning people from lighting up in pub gardens is "an unserious" policy and is not backed by good evidence to show that non-smokers are harmed.

Differing views in government about the ban, and uncertainty about the risks of pressing ahead with it, lie behind delays to the long-promised tobacco and vapes bill. It will make Britain the first country to progressively raise the age at which people can buy tobacco until no one can do so legally.

Keir Starmer has insisted that he is ready to face down critics of his drive to eradicate smoking because action is needed to reduce the 80,000 annual death toll from Britain's biggest killer.

But No 10 was said to be "spooked" by strongly worded warnings that job losses and pub closures will result if smoking in some outdoor settings is outlawed, despite the prime minister's repeated insistence that "nanny state" jibes will not stop him taking robust action to improve public health.

The Guardian understands that Morgan McSweeney, the prime minister's chief of staff, is not keen on proceeding with it, despite Starmer's previous refusal to rule it out.

"It is an unserious policy. Nobody really believes smoking outdoors is a major health problem," one Downing Street official said.