Southport MP sees into the smokefree future

February 10, 2006

A London pub went smokefree this week (Feb 8) to give Southport's MP a taste of the future.

The Westminster Arms - within walking distance of the Houses of Parliament - put away the ashtrays for the day, as SmokeFree Liverpool and Heart of Mersey (HoM) took over the popular pub.

Southport's John Pugh was one of the Merseyside MPs who turned up to pledge their support for 100% workplace restrictions, ahead of the crucial Parliamentary vote next week (Feb 14). He said that both his aunt and her husband had died prematurely - principally because of smoking - and people need an incentive not to smoke.

SmokeFree Liverpool Programme Director Andrea Crossfield said the campaigners had decided to take the message to the heart of the capital so that MPs and other decision-makers could see the difference a smokefree environment will make.

"We know from our visits to places that have already gone smokefree that seeing how it works is the most powerful argument of all," she said. "We thought that if we carried out the experiment on the MPs' doorstep, they could see for themselves.

Merseyside MP Shaun Woodward, who led the commitment to comprehensive smokefree legislation in Northern Ireland has pledged his support for a similar law for England, saying: ""The introduction of smokefree legislation will protect employees and the public in general from the increased health risks associated with exposure to secondhand smoke such as lung cancer, ischaemic heart disease, stroke, asthma and other circulatory and respiratory diseases. Experience elsewhere suggests that comprehensive controls also help reduce smoking prevalence."

Pippa Sargent, Smoke Free Programme Manager from Heart of Mersey, the organisation co-ordinating the Merseyside campaign, said: "MPs have a real opportunity to make a difference to public health in England when they vote next Tuesday 14th. We are asking them to have a heart and reflect public opinion, two thirds of whom want smokefree legislation, including pubs and clubs."

Both Merseyside and Liverpool have put forward Parliamentary Bills, which could give them the power to create their own laws, if MPs do not vote for comprehensive legislation for the whole country.

Louise Ellman MP, sponsor of the Liverpool Private Bill, said: "SmokeFree Liverpool has made a major impact on the national agenda. We are now much closer to seeing smoking banned in enclosed public places across the country. Liverpool is leading the way in saving lives."

Stephen Hesford MP, sponsor of the Merseyside Private Bill said: "The Merseyside Private Bill demonstrates how Merseysiders want comprehensive smokefree legislation - but the real goal is to protect the health of all workers across England, which is what we have the opportunity to deliver on February 14th. I for one will be voting for the Health Bill to include smokefree bars and clubs"

SmokeFree Liverpool and Heart of Mersey are encouraging all MPs from Merseyside and beyond to vote for comprehensive legislation on February 14.