PLANS for a smoking ban in outdoor spaces have been slammed by pubs and residents in Furness, with one watering hole labelling it 'ridiculous.'  

On Thursday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer did not rule out a smoking ban in outdoor spaces like pub gardens, hospital and university campuses, children's play areas and sports grounds as an extension to the current indoor ban which was passed by the previous Labour Government. 

The new Government pledged preventative public health measures in line with their election-winning manifesto. 

(Image: PA)

Asked about smoking on Thursday, Sir Keir told reporters he would 'take decisions in this space', and warned that smoking kills more than 80,000 each year.

“That’s a preventable death,” the Prime Minister said. “It’s a huge burden on the NHS and, of course, it’s a burden on the taxpayer.” He added: “More details will be revealed.”

This comes after leaked Whitehall papers were seen and published by The Sun newspaper. 

About a 'dozen' people were smoking in the beer garden of the Newton Arms in DaltonAbout a 'dozen' people were smoking in the beer garden of the Newton Arms in Dalton (Image: Google Maps)

David Windsor, landlord of The Newton Arms in Dalton, called the plans 'ridiculous.' 

"Are they banning smoking in the streets? Ridiculous. If that is the best they can come up with. How can you control a beer garden? Absolute utter rubbish."

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Reem Ibrahim, from the Institute of Economic Affairs think tank said banning outdoor smoking would be 'another nail in the coffin for the pub industry.' 

The plans were slammed by pubs and residentsThe plans were slammed by pubs and residents (Image: Pixabay)

Mr Windsor said that looking out his window he could see 'probably a dozen' people smoking outside in his beer garden. 

"I don't think it will happen," Mr Windsor said. "Because there are too many problems."

He said the plans were 'telling people what they can and can't do.' 

Readers also had their say.

Allan Calvert said: "Make little difference. Us smokers will just walk a few yards further away. Sunak's plan to gradually raise the buying age was probably better in terms of stopping young people starting to smoke. But this is silly." 

Karen Upton said: "Don't see why they should ban outside smoking in gardens as not doing any harm. Think if need be pubs will sort something out."

Don Jesson said: "The most pathetic law I've ever heard of. They want to concentrate on catching criminals not catching someone having a quick drag."