Keir Starmer has not ruled out the idea of smoking being banned in some outdoor spaces, including pub gardens and outside restaurants, as ministers consider fresh tobacco curbs that hospitality groups say could adversely affect the sector.
It is understood Downing Street is in favour of a series of measures outlined in documents connected to the planned wider tobacco and vapes bill, details of which were seen by the Sun.
The bill would gradually make all smoking illegal by prohibiting the sale of tobacco to people born on or after January 2009, an idea first proposed in the UK by Rishi Sunak’s government, and taken on by Labour.
According to the Sun, it would also impose new restrictions on outdoor smoking, including outdoor spaces at, and pavements outside, clubs and restaurants, as well as at universities, children’s play areas and small parks.
Ministers could target vapers as well as shisha bars, it said. The restrictions would not cover private homes or large open spaces, such as parks, or streets.
As public health is devolved, the measures would apply to only England, with the other UK nations deciding if they wanted to follow suit.