Complete smoking ban predicted in England 'within 10 years'
England will introduce a complete ban on smoking in public places within 10 years, Scotland’s former health minister predicted today.
Sam Galbraith, who introduced the Bill to ban smoking in public places in Scotland, said England’s partial ban would only be temporary.
After Cabinet splits, the British government decided smoking could continue in English pubs that do not serve food.
But Mr Galbraith said: “It will only be temporary. I think it is just a stage towards a total ban.”
Mr Galbraith told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme a complete ban would be brought in in “less than 10” years.
Mr Galbraith said the current ban was unworkable. He also said it was “patronising” towards poorer people because places that will allow smoking will generally be in disadvantaged areas.
“It is the equivalent of getting a new vaccine for avian flu but saying we are only going to give it to the middle class but you in the working class, in the poorer areas, you’re not going to get it because your life is not quite worth so much,” he said.
The British government says the partial ban is in keeping with its manifesto commitment. But Mr Galbraith said circumstances sometimes changed and if there was public support the government would be justified in going further.
