Nigel Farage has hit out at Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer over his proposed ban on smoking in outdoor spaces, claiming his "authoritarian nature is creeping through".
The Labour leader could impose a crackdown on outdoor restaurants and open-air spaces at clubs as part of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, according to leaked documents.
The ban would also see smokers prevented from lighting up in pub gardens, outside football stadiums and even small parks.
Reacting to the ban on GB News, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage criticised the proposals and claimed it will spell the "end of British pubs" as we know them.
Nigel Farage hit out at 'authoritarian' Sir Keir Starmer after his proposed smoking ban was exposed
GB News / PA
Farage told GB News: "I love pubs, because every one is a parliament. We discuss local issues, national issues, international issues, they're really important places.
"Back in 2006, when smoking was banned indoors, pubs and clubs took a 20 per cent financial hit. If you ban people smoking in gardens and ban people smoking outside the front of pubs, that is the end of the British pub. No more boozers. There'll be restaurants that masquerade as pubs, but there would be no more pubs."
In criticism of the Labour Government since entering power just six weeks ago, Farage said that the latest proposed move is and "intrusion and overstep" aimed at Britons.
He added: "I think it's massive government overreach. I think it's an intrusion that is just a step way too far, because if you're outside, there's no reason why your smoke should affect anybody else at all.
Smoking could be banned
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"We will not be smoke free by 2030, we will not be drug free by 2030, we won't be alcoholism free, and we won't be obesity free. No one's encouraging anyone to smoke. But if Government steps too far, it'll have the wrong effect."
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Asked whether he expected Labour to escalate such measures so soon, Farage responded: "His authoritarian nature is coming through, but he won't have any positive effect on public health whatsoever.
"Let's not forget that Rishi Sunak was putting forward the most ludicrous law, where in a decade's time a 25-year-old could buy a packet of cigarettes and the 24-year-old couldn't. So both parties are going in this direction.
"And by the way, it'll be alcohol next."
The Clacton MP warned that the Tories would likely support any such measures, making it difficult to defeat the legislation in parliament.
"I think it probably will happen, and I suspect most Conservatives will support it. There is so little difference between these two parties," he explained.
Farage declared he would 'never go to a pub again' if the ban was implemented
GB News
"So I suspect this will go through the commons, and I will probably never go to a pub again."
Noting another key issue sparking fury with Britons, Farage also suggested that Starmer is "genuinely scared" of how "deeply unhappy" the country is with illegal migration.
He said: "I think Starmer is genuinely scared that the mass of the population are deeply unhappy with legal and illegal legal immigration at these levels.
"And so they attempt to smear everybody who feels that way as being far-right, to take some people out and put them in prison for saying unpleasant things on Facebook or elsewhere. These, to me, are symptoms of fear."
