Smoking ban is scuppered

Ken Livingstone's hopes of a London-wide smoking ban have been dashed by the Government.

The Mayor had backed plans by the capital's councils to outlaw the habit in all public places.

But Health Secretary John Reid will announce tomorrow that smoking cannot be banned on a council by council or even city by city basis.

Dr Reid will instead announce plans for a scheme which will permit people to light up in bars, restaurants and pubs as long as the premises have a licence.

The compromise deal has been prompted by Labour's fears of being accused of running a "nanny state".

The Association of London Government, which represents 32 councils in the capital, was planning to bring forward a parliamentary Bill for a blanket ban. But without government support the move will fail.

Mr Livingstone had vowed during his re-election campaign to back moves for a blanket ban if that was what Londoners wanted.

Opinion polls showed overwhelming support for a total ban in restaurants, hotels and some other public areas.

But only 42 per cent backed the idea of a total prohibition in pubs, a statistic that is said to have influenced the Government. Dr Reid will unveil his plans tomorrow as part of his public health White Paper to combat smoking and obesity.

Under the proposals, smoking will be banned on NHS property. Only bereaved relatives and the mentally ill will be exempt.

In the past, ministers have been warned not to crack down too hard on the habit in hospitals because many consultants and doctors still smoke. There is concern among some ministers at the spectacle of doctors, nurses and patients lighting up outside hospitals.

But given the billions that the health service spends on dealing with the effects of smoking, ministers have been buoyed by opinion polls backing the idea of an NHS-wide ban.

The move, which will not need legislation, can be enacted swiftly and may reassure some Labour MPs who want more radical action taken.