Is Keir Starmer now targeting vapers? Labour MP says banning the use of vapes indoors is a next ‘obvious step to take’ after Professor Chris Whitty ‘pushed PM to support ban on smoking in pub gardens’ _ Hieuuk
A Labour MP has suggested a ban on vaping indoors could follow Sir Keir Starmer‘s plan to stop Britons smoking in pub gardens and other outdoor areas.
Rachel Maskell said action against people using vapes inside ‘is a very obvious step to take’ as ministers looks at measures to ‘enable people to have healthier lives’.
The Prime Minister yesterday confirmed he is considering tougher laws on smoking, which could see Brits barred from lighting up in beer gardens or outside stadiums.
Sir Keir told journalists on a visit to Paris he is looking at changes as he pointed to a ‘huge burden’ on the NHS.
According to leaked plans, the Government could extend the indoor smoking ban, which was introduced under the previous Labour government in 2007, to cover other locations.
This may include small parks, outdoor restaurants or even shisha bars, as well as areas outside hospitals and football grounds.
According to The Times, Professor Sir Chris Whitty – the chief medical officer for England – has been personally pushing for the ban on smoking in some outdoor places.
It is said to have been considered but rejected by former PM Rishi Sunak while he was in Downing Street.
A Labour MP has suggested a ban on vaping indoors could follow Sir Keir Starmer ‘s plan to stop Britons smoking in pub gardens and other outdoor areas
The Prime Minister yesterday confirmed he is considering tougher laws on smoking, which could see Brits barred from lighting up in beer gardens or outside stadiums
Professor Sir Chris Whitty – the chief medical officer for England – has reportedly been personally pushing for the ban on smoking in some outdoor places.
Labour pledged to introduce a Tobacco and Vapes Bill at last month’s King’s Speech to ‘progressively increase the age at which people can buy cigarettes and impose limits on the sale and marketing of vapes’.
This will ban smoking for those born after 2008 and prevent the availability of vapes for children, but there was no mention of a ban on smoking in outdoor areas for those of legal age.
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It is expected the legislation might now be extended to include tougher restrictions favoured by public health experts.
Ms Maskell suggesed there could be further restrictions on vaping, as well as smoking.
She told Times Radio: ‘We need to align what we do for smoking for people that are vaping as well.
‘We need to have that consistency in public policy to ensure that everyone is clear. Banning vaping for indoor spaces is a very obvious step to take.’
She added: ‘But there’s all sorts of other issues like advertising, where vapes are sold and indeed what’s in those vapes.
‘Because we know that there is an illicit market out there and getting on top of that is crucial for the Government as it looks at that legislation.’
Asked if Brits should expect more public health interventions from the Labour Government, the York Central MP said: ‘I think we’ve got to look at all of those interventions that can be made to enable people to have healthier lives.
‘And of course diet, exercise, looking at alcohol intake, all of these factors are just so important.’
