Landmark legal challenge to smoking ban
A group seeking amendments to the smoking ban has asked for a Judicial Review at the High Court today.
The legal challenge will then be served on the Attorney General and the Secretary of State for Health: The Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt MP prior to new law coming into effect on 1st July.
On a personal level I've suffered a lot of abuse over this and all I've ever wanted to do was represent the views of the membership of Freedom to ChooseRobert Feal-Martinez, Freedom to Choose spokesman
Freedom to Choose say the ban is an erosion of freedom and personal liberties.
A pre-claim letter before action was sent on 12th June 2007 by the solicitor on behalf of the group and following an 'unsatisfactory' response the challenge is set to be launched.
Human rights lawyer Jaswinder Gill of law firm Ormerod's told morningadvertiser.co.uk: "The Government has made clear that they will not consider our request for amendments so it gives us no choice but to issue proceedings on behalf of Freedom to Choose."
Speaking after issuing the papers in the High Court this afternoon, Robert Feal-Martinez, Freedom to Choose spokesman, said: "This makes me feel really good to be honest.
"On a personal level I've suffered a lot of abuse over this and all I've ever wanted to do was represent the views of the membership of Freedom to Choose.
"This is the milestone we've been aiming at and we did it at our own pace - not the pace dictated by the anti-smoking lobby."
