Liverpool fights on for 100% smokefree

Campaigners in Liverpool today vowed to press ahead with their bid to make the city's workplaces 100% smokefree.

They said that there is only one approach that makes sense to them. And they said the Government had missed a golden opportunity to follow that approach.

"We don't think 'smoking carriages' or any other compromise goes far enough. The vast majority of people in Liverpool, and an overwhelming majority of all members of the City Council, believe that ALL workers should be protected from the effects of secondhand smoke. That means no smoking in all bars, clubs, pubs and restaurants," said Cllr Mike Storey, Leader of Liverpool City Council.

"Accordingly, we will be pressing ahead with our 'Liverpool Bill' in Parliament - now that the Government has apparently finally made its mind up."

The Bill - which would give Liverpool powers to make all workplaces in the city smokefree - is due to go before a Parliamentary Committee early next year, and could become law before the city is European Capital of Culture in 2008.

Liverpool is the only English regional city to have taken the process so far, although London boroughs are pursuing similar legislation.

Council leaders on Merseyside are also backing a Merseyside Bill, which is due to be deposited in Parliament at the end of November.

"The strength of feeling in Liverpool and Merseyside in general means that we simply cannot give up our battle for legislation," added Cllr Storey. "The only way we would have stopped the fight was if the Government adopted 100% restrictions. As it is - we fight on."

Cllr Joe Anderson, Leader of the Labour Group, said the move has all-party backing. "Why should the health of the citizens of Liverpool be any less well protected than that of citizens of Northern Ireland? We believe this is a golden opportunity to take a significant step forward in public health."

Cllr Gideon Ben-Tovim, Chair of Liverpool Central PCT and Joint Chair of the SmokeFree Liverpool Stakeholder Group, added: "Many experts believe the 'smoking carriage' proposal is unworkable.

"The ventilation argument has already been lost. Ventilation just does not prevent people being affected by secondhand tobacco smoke, and for the Government to fail to acknowledge this is very depressing.

"We do not want to perpetuate health inequalities, but to protect the health of all people in Liverpool. That is why we will continue with the Bill."

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For further information please contact Eilidh Robertson at Kenyon Fraser on 0151 706 9984 or Roger Kenyon on 07843 243 915.