MPs join campaign to change smoking ban

MPs from the three main political parties will today join forces to support a campaign to change the smoking ban.

The Rt Hon Greg Knight, Conservative MP for East Yorkshire, Roger Godsiff, Labour MP for Birmingham Hall Green, and John Hemming, Liberal Democrat MP

for Birmingham Yardley, will host a reception for the Save Our Pubs & Clubs campaign at the House of Commons.

Over 200 supporters of the campaign, including publicans and members of the Clubs & Institute Union which represents over 2000 working men's clubs, will attend the event which marks the fourth anniversary of the smoking ban in England [1 July]. Organisers will be lobbying MPs for a review of the ban and an amendment to the legislation.

Campaigners say the ban has had a devastating impact on community pubs throughout Britain. Almost three years after the introduction of smoking

bans in England, Scotland and Wales, Scotland had lost 7.1% of its pub estate (467 pubs), Wales 7.3% (274), and England 7.6% (4,148).

Save Our Pubs & Clubs want a review of the ban and an amendment to the legislation that would give pubs and the option of having

separate, well-ventilated smoking rooms.

Greg Knight MP, who helped launched the Save Our Pubs & Clubs campaign in 2009, said: "This is a unique opportunity for people to show how strongly

they feel on this important issue. A modest change in the law, not a repeal of the smoking ban, is all we seek.

Simon Clark, director of Save Our Pubs & Clubs, said, "Looking at the dramatic increase in pub closures since the introduction of smoking bans

in Scotland, Wales and England, it is clear that the ban has been a big factor in the closure of many pubs and clubs throughout Britain.

"The Government should review the ban and consider a change in the law that would allow separate smoking rooms in pubs and clubs."