What happened
Keir Starmer appears to have confirmed government plans to ban smoking in outdoor spaces at pubs and garden restaurants, putting the prime minister on a "collision course with the hospitality industry and political opponents", said The Guardian.
Downing Street is reportedly in favour of the measure outlined in documents connected to the planned Tobacco and Vapes Bill, seen by The Sun. The newspaper said the documents showed that ministers were "plotting to drastically extend the indoor smoking ban" to a number of outdoor spaces, which could include areas outside football stadiums and open air spaces in clubs, as well as outside universities, hospitals, sports grounds and kids' play areas.
Who said what
Starmer appeared to confirm the government plans yesterday, telling reporters: "My starting point on this is to remind everyone that over 80,000 people lose their lives every year because of smoking. That's a preventable death.
"It's a huge burden on the NHS and, of course, it's a burden on the taxpayer. So yes, we are going to take decisions in this space."
What next?
Some in the hospitality industry have warned of a potential knock-on effect of a stricter smoking ban, arguing it could force businesses to close. But health experts have backed the idea and polling has shown that it has majority support among almost all demographics. | 
