Labour has sparked fury among Britons after leaked documents suggest that the Government could be set to implement a ban on outdoor smoking.
The proposed plans are expected to be unveiled as part of a tougher Tobacco and Vapes Bill, with outdoor restaurants and open-air spaces at clubs to be most affected by the move.
The ban would also see smokers prevented from lighting up in pub gardens, outside football stadiums and even small parks, according to the leaked documents.
Reacting to the ban on GB News, Director of the Popular Conservatives Mark Littlewood hit out at the "insane" decision by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Mark Littlewood hit out at Sir Keir Starmer after leaked documents suggested an outdoor smoking ban
PA / GB News
Littlewood said of the ban: "It's absolute insanity. Everybody in Britain knows smoking is addictive, it carries enormous health risks.
"But the idea that you can't light up a cigarette in a pub garden or a park or within ten yards of a football stadium... the passing traffic will be polluting your lungs more than somebody lighting a cigarette. It is nannyism gone mad."
Hitting out at Starmer over the proposed crackdown, pub owner and commentator Adam Brooks predicted the ban would spell "disaster" for the hospitality industry, and questioned whether the PM is striving to be "the most hated Prime Minister in history".
Brooks raged: "Whoever is advising these people is just doing him up. What right has the Government got to tell me what people can do in my pub garden?
Leaked documents suggest that smoking could be banned in pub gardens, outside football stadiums, nightclubs and small parks
Getty
"If they want to smoke, they can smoke. It's outdoors. I pay my taxes, I pay my business rates. Why shouldn't I have the call on what goes on in my garden?"
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Offering her verdict on the proposals, journalist Nina Myskow questioned how the Government would police the ban, but argued that smoking is "the worst habit you can have" for your health.
Myskow told GB News: "I've actually got no idea how they how they're going to police that, but I will say it's bad for your health and it costs the NHS billions.
"As a punter, I don't smoke, but I'd rather go in a garden than not because I like to be outdoors most of the time. I do not like smoke drifting over - why should I have your secondary smoke?"
Brooks hit back at Myskow, claiming: "Alcohol, even though I sell it, is not good for people and does cost the NHS money as well, so that's very hypocritical of you to say that about smoking.
Mark Littlwood said the proposed move by Labour was 'nannyism gone mad'
GB News
"This is going to kill pubs."
Sir Keir Starmer revived the Tobacco and Vapes Bill following Labour’s landslide victory at this summer's General Election.
A Department for Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "We do not comment on leaks."
