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Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed he is looking at changes to smoking laws after a leaked government document reportedly revealed Labour’s intention to ban smoking in pub gardens, outdoor restaurants and near football stadiums.
The prime minister is facing cabinet tensions over possible stricter Tobacco and Vapes Bill with Business Department officials warning that the move could create financial tensions for the industry.
It comes as he raised concerns about a potential fuel duty increase after refusing to rule out a tax rise in the autumn Budget during a press conference in Berlin.
Despite reiterating his manifesto pledge not to raise income tax, National Insurance, or VAT, the prime minister remained noncommital on fuel duty, marking the first potential rise since 2010.
Sir Keir is continuing efforts to build bridges with European leaders as he holds talks with Emmanuel Macron today.
He was welcomed by the French President while he visited Paris for the Paralympics opening ceremony, after meeting in Germany with chancellor Olaf Scholz as the prime minister pursues his post-Brexit reset agenda.
The PM said a new treaty between Britain and Germany will help “deliver for working people” and create “deeper links on science, technology, development, people, business, and culture”.
Key Points
- PM doesn't deny plans for potential outdoor smoking ban
- Plan to ban smoking in pub gardens sparks cabinet tensions
- Starmer refuses to rule out fuel duty increase in autumn budget
- PM continues UK-EU ‘reset’ effort with Macron talks in Paris
- Lib Dems to push vote on winter fuel payment cut
Net spend on temporary accommodation for homelessness up by 42% in a year
Spending by councils in England on temporary accommodation for homelessness has soared by more than 40 per cent in a year, as charities branded it “unfathomable” and “absurd”.
Net spending – which is different between the total outgoings for local authorities and their income – for the year to March was £1.06 billion.
This was a rise of 42.5% on the previous year, when expenditure stood at £743 million.
Both housing charity Shelter and homelessness charity Crisis criticised the lack of investment in long-term solutions such as new social housing, describing temporary accommodation as “grim” and “often damp and mouldy”.
Figures published earlier this month showed a record high of more than 150,000 children living in temporary accommodation in England at the end of March.
A total of 117,450 households were in this situation at that point, some 74,530 of which were households with children.
Salma Ouaguira29 August 2024 13:15 1724932848Government will ‘take decisions’ on potential outdoor smoking ban, Starmer says
Sir Keir Starmer has said the Government will “take decisions” on a potential outdoor smoking ban in an effort to curb preventable deaths and alleviate pressures on the NHS.
Industry leaders have warned that the proposed plans to ban outdoor smoking, including in beer gardens and outside stadiums, would be another “nail in the coffin” for pubs and bars.
According to leaked proposals seen by The Sun newspaper, the Government is set to ban smoking in some outdoor areas to improve public health.
The indoor smoking ban could be extended to cover other locations including small parks, outdoor restaurants and hospitals.
Sir Keir told reporters in Paris: “My starting point on this is to remind everyone that over 80,000 people lose their lives every year because of smoking. That’s a preventable death.
“It’s a huge burden on the NHS, and, of course, it’s 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 the action to reduce the burden on the NHS and reduce the burden on the taxpayer.”
Watch: Starmer meets Macron in Paris after talks in Germany
Watch: Starmer meets Macron in Paris as he looks to ‘reset’ UK relationship with EU
Watch as Sir Keir Starmer meets French president Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Thursday 29 August.
Salma Ouaguira29 August 2024 12:45 1724931086Pub boss warns smoking ban could drive customers away
A pub boss has criticised the proposed smoking ban in pub gardens, warning it could drive smokers away and increase social isolation.
Chris Jowsey, chief executive of Admiral Taverns, which runs more than 1,600 pubs in the UK, said: “This proposed ban is going to drive people who smoke away from the pub. It increases isolation.
“I’m no fan of smoking, but I just can’t see how this will improve health outcomes if you move people from smoking in a pub garden to smoking at home.
“It doesn’t really make any sense to me. It feels really ill-thought through.
“It would also reduce footfall and revenue into pubs.
“A pub is the last community asset left standing in many communities. Anything that undermines their ability to survive and grow their business is a bad thing, not just for the pub, but for the community.
“What are we going to do? Will we have to employ people now to just patrol the gardens to make sure nobody’s smoking? It seems a bit nuts.”
Salma Ouaguira29 August 2024 12:31 1724930148In full: Starmer plans outdoor smoking ban for pub gardens and sports venues
Ministers are considering a ban on outdoor smoking as part of a way to end the use of cigarettes and other tobacco products for future generations, according to reports.
Papers seen by The Sun, suggest that Sir Keir Starmer’s government is considering a ban in specific outdoor areas such as pub gardens and outside hositpals as an extension of proposed legislation first introduced by Rishi Sunak’s Tory government.
The ban would also extend to small parks, outside nightclubs and sports venues according to “secret Whitehall papers”.
When contacted about the report, a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We do not comment on leaks.
Read the full story below:
Starmer plans outdoor smoking ban for pub gardens and sports venues
New Labour government considering crackdown on smoking including outside nightclubs and hospitals
Salma Ouaguira29 August 2024 12:15 1724929201Starmer defends ‘preventative model’ for smoking laws
Sir Keir Starmer said it was important to “get the balance right” when asked whether new laws to reduce smoking would break his post-election pledge for politics to “tread more lightly” on voters’ lives.
He said: “It is important to get the balance right, but everybody watching this who uses the NHS will know that it’s on its knees.
“We have to relieve the burden and that’s why I spoke before the election about moving to a preventative model when it comes to health.
“I want the NHS back on its feet, but I also want it fit for the next 75 years, just as we’ve had a brilliant 75 years already, and that means taking action in relation to preventable deaths.”
Salma Ouaguira29 August 2024 12:00 1724928648Pub bosses hit out at government’s plan to ban outdoor smoking
Clive Watson, pub entrepreneur and chairman of Inda pub group, has called reports of government plans to ban smoking in some outdoor areas “bonkers”.
He said: “I think it’s a bonkers idea – it will encourage customers to stay at home, meaning there is no health upside.”
Mr Watson, who also founded City Pub Group, added: “It’s just another example of the government stifling the customers’ experience in the pub – surely after all the pub industry has been through we should be allowed a period of stability.”
Salma Ouaguira29 August 2024 11:50 1724928328Starmer confirms changes in smoking laws
Sir Keir Starmer told journalists in Paris that he is looking at changes to smoking laws.
He 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.”
Home Office’s ‘woeful budgeting’ blamed for asylum spending crisis, says IFS
The Home Office’s “mismanagement” has led to repeated overspending on asylum and immigration services, according to a damning report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS).
The report highlights a staggering discrepancy between the department’s initial budgets and actual expenditures, with a £7.6 billion overspend over the past three years alone.
The IFs report reveals that between 2021 and 2024, the Home Office budgeted an average of just £110 million annually for asylum operations but ended up spending £2.6 billion per year - more than 23 the original allocation.
The institue claimed that the “woeful way” the Home Office and HM Treasury have budgeted for asylum costs is central of the recent disagreement between Rachel Reeves and her predecessor Jeremy Hunt.
Salma Ouaguira29 August 2024 11:38 1724926848Watch: Lib Dems will ‘attempt to reverse’ Labour’s winter fuel payments cut
Lib Dems to challenge Labour’s winter fuel payment cut in parliament, says Ed Davey
Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey has said his party will attempt to block the government’s proposed move to end the winter fuel allowance to some pensioners, describing the move as the new administration’s “first big mistake”. Sir Ed said Labour MPs and others across the House will be “genuinely worried” about the move after correspondence with constituents. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the government is withdrawing winter fuel payments from millions of pensioner households not in receipt of benefits. The Liberal Democrat leader believes the move would “hit millions” so a vote in parliament is needed, urging the government to "think again".
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