Leech Promises "I'm Voting Smoke-Free"

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 9th Feb 2006

Withington Liberal Democrat MP John Leech has pledged his support for a comprehensive smoking ban in the run-up to this month's all-important vote in the House of Commons.

John will back the British Heart Foundation's (BHF) call for the exemptions allowing some pubs and clubs to continue to allow smoking to be scrapped.

At Health questions last week, John said:

"The Government's plans for a partial ban make no sense. They would see some workers being protected from passive smoking but would leave others breathing in harmful tobacco smoke while at work. Smoking causes huge amounts of illness, suffering and premature death and costs the NHS millions of pounds each year. Any measure to encourage people to give up must be taken - and that means a full ban."

At an event at the House of Commons last week, John stood side-by-side with Kevin Barron, the Labour Chairman of the House of Commons Health Select Committee. The influential Committee last month tabled an amendment to the Health Bill which aimed to secure a comprehensive smoking ban in England.

On Tuesday, the Government bowed to pressure and agreed to part of this amendment, meaning that ALL pubs will now be subject to the ban if the Bill is passed by parliament. However, as it stands, exemptions in the Bill would still allow smoking in private clubs. The BHF and the Committee believes this is unacceptable and illogical, and will leave thousands of workers unprotected from the proven health dangers of second-hand tobacco smoke. As such, we are supporting an additional amendment to be tabled to remove this anomaly.

Maura Gillespie, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at the British Heart Foundation, said: "The BHF has still not heard a logical explanation for why a minority of workers, many of whom live in the poorest areas, should be denied the same protection that this Bill offers to the majority."

"The proposed exemptions offer an inexplicable loophole that will create confusion and widen health inequalities - without even satisfying the pub trade or the vast majority of the public. We are delighted John Leech has pledged to vote for the only sensible and workable solution: a comprehensive smoking ban."

All MPs who demonstrated their commitment at the Parliamentary event received a certificate of thanks from the Health Select Committee for agreeing to support comprehensive smokefree legislation.

Kevin Barron said:

"It is crucial that we get the vote of MPs from all parties to ensure that the proposed exemption is removed. We therefore welcome the support of John Leech, who has demonstrated that he is committed to protecting all his constituents."

The medical evidence for the need for a ban is now well established. It has support from all members of the Smokefree Action Coalition, which includes the BHF, Cancer Research UK, the British Medical Association, the Royal College of Physicians and ASH.

The evidence includes:

· There is a clear link between passive smoking and heart disease, with an increased risk of developing heart disease in non-smokers of 50% Whincup P et al (2004) Passive smoking BMJ 329 (7459) pp 200-205;

· You do not have to be exposed to cigarette smoke for long for it to damage your heart - just 30 minutes in a smoky atmosphere is enough to reduce coronary blood flow BMJ Volume 328, 24 April 2004. Terry F Pechacek and Stephen Babb;

· Exposure at work may cause more than 50 deaths in the hospitality industry per year - almost one hospitality worker per week.

The vote will take place during the Report Stage of the Bill, which is expected to take place on 14th February.

ENDS

For more information please contact the BHF press office on 020 7487 7172 or 07764 290381 (out of hours) or email newsdesk@bhf.org.uk.

Notes to editors

• Whincup P et al (2004) Passive smoking BMJ 329 (7459) pp 200-205

• 2 BMJ Volume 328, 24 April 2004. Terry F Pechacek and Stephen Babb

• To see the BHF's full policy statement on smokefree workplaces, visit bhf.org.uk/policy

• The BHF is leading the battle against heart and circulatory disease - the UK's biggest killer. The Charity is a major funder and authority in cardiovascular research. It plays an important role in funding education, both of the public and of health professionals, and in providing life-saving cardiac equipment and support for rehabilitation and patient care.

• For more information about the BHF, visit bhf.org.uk

A photo of John Leech with Kevin Barron, the Labour Chairman of the House of Commons Health Select Committee, is available on request.