Starmer: Ban on Smoking in Pub Gardens Could Reduce Burden on NHS is the same playbook excuse the Drakeford and Waters used in Wales to bring in the draconian 20mph speed limits. Have Labour not taken any lessons away?
Keir Starmer has confirmed the Government could ban smoking in pub gardens and other outdoor areas, arguing it would reduce the “burden” on the NHS
The Prime Minister told journalists in Paris on Thursday that ministers were looking at tightening smoking restrictions. Critics labelled the potential move as “authoritarian” and a “nanny state” policy.
Sir Keir said: “My starting point on this is to remind everybody that over 80,000 people lose their lives every year because of smoking. That is a preventable death, it’s a huge burden on the NHS and, of course, it is a burden on the taxpayer.
“So, yes, we are going to take decisions in this space, more details will be revealed, but this is a preventable series of deaths and we’ve got to take action to reduce the burden on the NHS and the taxpayer.”
The Government is considering a ban on smoking in pub gardens as well as other outdoor areas like outside football stadiums, outdoor restaurants and open-air spaces at nightclubs.
The proposals, first reported by the Sun, will be subject to a public consultation but they have sparked a furious backlash from politicians and the hospitality industry.
Nigel Farage, the Reform U.K. leader, said the Government was guilty of a “massive overreach”.
He told Talk TV: “It is not nanny-statism. It is authoritarianism. It is ‘I know what is best for you and you will damn well do it and what I am going to do is I am going to take your legal activity and make it illegal’.
“That is really what they are saying here. A smoke-free Britain by 2030. Really? Will it be drugs-free by 2030? Will it be obesity-free? Will it be alcoholism-free?
“This is a massive overreach by Government. I loathe these people and their very instincts.”
Starmer is facing a backlash from Labour MPs and ministers over his “mad” smoking ban plan, with one source claiming some ministers believe Sue Gray is behind it.
A new 20mph default speed limit in communities across Wales could save £100m as deaths and injuries are reduced, according to new research.
New research showing a reduction in deaths and injuries as traffic slows down is being published today alongside new survey results showing continued public support for the national roll out of the lower 20mph speed limit next year – a UK first.
The Welsh Government will introduce a default 20mph speed limit on restricted roads across Wales in September 2023. Restricted roads include those with street-lights and are usually located in residential and built-up areas with high pedestrian activity.
It seems that Keir Starmer and his Labour Party are determined to double down on their “nanny state” policies, further eroding personal freedoms under the guise of public health. Following the heavy-handed implementation of the 20mph speed limits across Wales—a decision which has faced significant backlash from drivers, residents, and even emergency services—Labour is now turning its sights on smokers. In an alarming new proposal, the Government is considering banning smoking in pub gardens and other outdoor areas, all in the name of reducing the so-called “burden” on the NHS. But have they learned nothing from the Welsh debacle?
Same Playbook, Different Target
Keir Starmer’s justification for the proposed smoking ban mirrors the same paternalistic rhetoric we heard from Mark Drakeford and Lee Waters when they imposed the 20mph speed limit in Wales. The argument is always the same: it’s about saving lives and reducing strain on public services. In this case, Starmer cites the preventable deaths of 80,000 people per year due to smoking, framing the potential ban as a necessary evil to protect the NHS and taxpayers. But this is the same playbook Labour used to force through the 20mph limit in Wales, ignoring widespread opposition and legitimate concerns about the policy’s practicality and effectiveness.
The Welsh speed limit change, touted as a move to save lives and cut down on accidents, has proven to be nothing short of disastrous. It has clogged roads, confused drivers, and sparked anger among communities who feel that the policy was thrust upon them without proper consultation. The promised benefits of safer streets have been overshadowed by the real-world consequences: increased congestion, delayed emergency response times, and a frustrated public. Similarly, the proposed smoking ban risks overstepping into the realm of personal choice, dictating behaviour in spaces traditionally reserved for social freedom, like pub gardens.
Public Backlash: A Pattern of Authoritarianism
Labour’s pattern of governance—characterised by heavy-handed, top-down directives—has increasingly been met with fierce public backlash. Nigel Farage has labelled the proposed smoking ban as nothing less than “authoritarianism,” and he’s not wrong. This isn’t about protecting people; it’s about controlling them. The Welsh 20mph speed limit serves as a stark warning of what happens when government overreach trumps common sense. Critics argue that the smoking ban is just another example of Labour’s tendency to nanny the public, treating adults like children incapable of making their own decisions.
The smoking ban proposal, like the 20mph speed limit, is emblematic of a broader trend in Labour’s approach: the party’s insistence on pushing policies that sound good on paper but fall apart in practice. Just as the 20mph limit was sold as a life-saving measure, the smoking ban is being marketed as a way to save the NHS. Yet, these justifications feel hollow when weighed against the loss of personal freedoms and the growing resentment among the electorate.
Labour’s failure to heed the lessons from Wales is staggering. Despite the outcry, the 20mph speed limit has been stubbornly defended by Welsh ministers, who point to cherry-picked research suggesting public support and safety improvements. Meanwhile, the voices of those stuck in gridlock, grappling with extended journey times, or facing fines are conveniently ignored. Now, Starmer’s team appears set to repeat the same mistake on a national level with the smoking ban, seemingly oblivious to the fact that people don’t want a government that micromanages their every move.
Both policies represent a troubling disregard for public consultation and a worrying trend of imposing blanket rules that treat everyone the same, regardless of context. The 20mph limit does not consider the differing needs of urban, rural, and suburban areas; similarly, a smoking ban in outdoor areas does not account for the fact that people might choose to smoke outside specifically to avoid smoking indoors, respecting those around them.
The Nanny State Strikes Again
Labour’s proposed ban on smoking in pub gardens is not just about health; it’s about control. Just like the 20mph speed limits in Wales, it represents a government that has lost touch with the people it serves, prioritising dogmatic public health goals over individual freedom and common sense. Instead of learning from the Welsh backlash, Labour seems hell-bent on repeating its mistakes, using the same stale arguments about protecting the NHS and saving lives to justify increasingly draconian measures. If the outcry over the 20mph limit is anything to go by, Starmer and his team should brace themselves for another round of public fury. The question is: will they ever learn?
Stan Robinson- none smoker – just someone who believes in freedom of choice.
