'Authoritarian government overreaches into freedom!' Bev Turner 'appalled' by plan to ban smoking in parks and pub gardens
Bev Turner has hit out at the suggestion smoking should be banned in public places
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GB News presenter Bev Turner has criticised the idea of banning smoking in public outdoor places, accusing policymakers of being an "authoritarian government, overreaching into the freedom" people have.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer today said the Government would "take decisions" on a potential outdoor smoking ban, in a bid to reduce preventable deaths and alleviate pressures on the NHS.
Government ministers are considering banning smoking in some outdoor areas, which could include small parks, outdoor restaurants and outside of hospitals, to improve public health, according to leaked proposals seen by The Sun.
In a behind the scenes video, exclusively for GB News members, Bev today said: "So I'm just off air from Britain's Newsroom, and we've been talking a lot this morning about Keir Starmer's incoming no doubt smoking ban in public spaces - be that a park or a pub garden or outside of football stadiums."
WATCH NOW: Bev Turner blasts plan to ban smoking in public outdoor spaces
Sharing her thoughts on the proposal, Bev agreed "of course" people cannot smoke inside public spaces, but said this ban would affect people "when they're walking up to something".
She added: "This is absolutely authoritarian government overreach into the freedom that you have to do what you want to your body.
"I'm appalled by this suggestion, but it doesn't remotely surprise me.
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"It's all under the auspices of 'We're going to keep you safe and we're going to keep you alive', which apparently you no longer have a responsibility to do yourself.
"I feel really strongly about it. I don't smoke, I've never been a smoker, but I will absolutely fight for your right to smoke if you want to."