MPs vote for total pub smoking ban

MPs have overwhelmingly voted to ban smoking in all pubs in England.​

In a free vote in the House of Commons at the end of a sometimes heated debate, MPs went beyond the government's original compromise which would have banned smoking only in pubs serving food.

The vote was 453 to 125 in favour of a total ban in pubs, a strong majority of 328. The overall vote for a smoking ban in public places also won firm support.

MPs also voted to include private members clubs in the ban. Pub trade bodies had lobbied hard for a level playing field for all licensed premises, arguing pubs would lose trade as smokers moved to clubs.

The government included the food-only compromise in its manifesto for last year's General Election. However, the Prime Minister agreed to the free vote after a Cabinet split on the issue.

The Commons health select committee also said a total ban was the "only effective means" of protecting public health.

Health minister Caroline Flint also announced that the maximum fine for premises flouting the ban would be increased to £2,500 rather than the £200 originally proposed.

The Bill still has to go through the House of Lords, but peers are very unlikely to go against the clear wishes of such a large majority of MPs.