Boris Johnson blocked plans to ban smoking outside pubs and nightclubs after the policy was pushed by Sajid Javid, it was claimed today.
The Health Secretary was reportedly advocating a crackdown on people smoking near the entrances of hospitality venues.
But the proposal is said to have been torpedoed by the Prime Minister following a Cabinet backlash.
Boris Johnson blocked plans to ban smoking outside pubs and nightclubs after the policy was pushed by Sajid Javid, it was claimed today
The Health Secretary was reportedly advocating a crackdown on people smoking near the entrances of hospitality venues
Government insiders told The Daily Express that the PM stepped in after ministers were left 'outraged and bemused' by the plans.
Cabinet ministers were concerned that imposing extra red tape on the hospitality sector would hamper its recovery from the coronavirus crisis.
Smoking was banned inside pubs back in 2007 and the Department of Health and 실시간바카라 Social Care reportedly started looking at a possible extension of the policy when Matt Hancock was health secretary.
Sources close to Mr Javid told the newspaper that the policy is now 'not happening'.
A Government source slammed the idea and said: 'It's not just about taking away freedom of choice but it is putting more red tape on businesses.'
Smoking outside venues has been prohibited in a handful of local authority areas in England.
But the idea of a nationwide ban on pavement smoking is opposed by many Tory MPs.
Conservative backbencher Laurence Robertson said pubs had been 'battered too much already' and they do not need 'any more problems'.