Politicians stage mass light-up

Tobacco-loving peers and MPs today defied political correctness by staging a mass light-up on National No Smoking Day.

Members of the Lords and Commons Pipe and Cigar Smokers' Club gathered in New Palace Yard at the House of Commons for the event before heading off to a smart London hotel for their annual lunch.

Led by their Convenor, Labour peer Lord Mason of Barnsley, the 70-member, cross-party club were defending the liberty to light up where they wish.

No Smoking Day organisers were using today's event to push the case for banning smoking in public places, arguing that a prohibition on tobacco in pubs, bars and all workplaces would save 4,800 lives a year in England, Wales and Scotland.

Support from the public for a ban on smoking in enclosed public places has been steadily growing, but the Government has been slow to commit to bringing about such a law.

Smokers' Club secretary Peter Middleton said its event today was primarily light-hearted. "It's just a bit of fun. We do take into account the views of non-smokers, but we don't like to be told when we can and can't smoke," he said.

Meanwhile the Tobacco Workers' Alliance was lobbying MPs and peers in a bid to gain support for their campaign for a reduction or at least a freeze on tobacco duty in next Wednesday's Budget.

They were to argue that high duties encourage tobacco smuggling, which they say is a threat to their members' jobs.

The Alliance's chairman Brenda Warrington said: "Despite HM Customs and Excise's best efforts, smuggling is still of major concern to UK tobacco manufacturing jobs, legal sales and law and order.

"Tobacco smuggling is the single biggest issue to threaten UK tobacco manufacturing jobs at the moment. The Government must direct all its efforts to upholding the rule of law, thereby safeguarding tobacco manufacturing jobs."