Cherie Blair helps club owner challenge Tony's smoking ban
The Prime Minister's wife, Cherie Blair, has reportedly been hired by a nightclub owner - to help him fight the smoking ban brought in by her husband.
Under her professional name Cherie Booth QC gave expert advice on how it could breach human rights of staff and guests at the HeyJo Club in central London.
I want to eyeball the authorities and am calling on other nightclubs to join me in the challengeClub owner Dave West
Club owner Dave West, who is reportedly worth £100million, told the Mirror he met Cherie at the club to discuss a legal challenge.
He said: "Cherie said the court case should be filed before the ban and then the Government would try to strike it out. I told her I was prepared to go to the European Court.
"I told her I would be defying the ban as would staff and customers.
"When the police come, I shall show them the writ with Cherie's name on it and tell them to come back another time.
"There is no room for manoeuvre when the ban comes in. I will be fined £2,500 each time it is breached.
"The only way for patrons to smoke after July 1 is by going out on the pavement and that could land me in trouble with the police if it creates noise or disturbance.
"I want to eyeball the authorities and am calling on other nightclubs to join me in the challenge."
Leading lawyer Rodney Hylton-Potts, who represents West, said: "This test case seeks a ruling that smoking should be allowed in private clubs. If successful it would run a coach and horses through the ban. Smokers have rights too."
