'This is patronising ... it's just a stereotype'

Single mothers from estates in London reacted with anger to Dr Reid's comments, branding them "negative" and "patronising".

Dionne Powell, 26, a single mother of one from Neasden, said: "That's wrong. Those comments aren't very helpful, it's just a stereotype. There are are so many other things to do apart from smoking: we have parks, you can read, go to the cinema, go bowling, there's always things you can do for fun.

"I am all for a ban on smoking. You can't go anywhere these days without passive smoke. In a bar or club it feels like you've smoked a packet of cigarettes. It's just nasty."

Her sister Chantelle, 27, a single mother of four from Stonebridge Park, challenged the Health Secretary's assumptions: "We're both single parents and don't smoke so we think he is wrong. Just because we

live on council estates doesn't mean we have to smoke.

"It's like saying any black boys in an estate will smoke weed and grow up into crime. With smoking you just throw all your money away. You're supposed to be a role model for your kids and even if you live in a bad situation you don't have to follow what other people do."

Lauren Parke, 29, a single mother of two from Brondesbury who does not smoke, said: "This is patronising. There are people who are well off and smoke and I don't think it has anything to do with living on a council estate. I hate people who smoke when they are with young children. I'm one of those people who will say, 'Excuse me you have a baby there, how can you smoke?'"