Labour is giving Nigel Farage a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity to smash the two-party system by pushing ahead with its “insane” plan to ban smoking outside pubs and football stadiums, a former Reform UK insider has told GB News.
The populist party, which is already benefitting from a post-election bounce in the opinion polls, is looking to attract support from traditional Labour voters in key target seats across Brexit-backing England and Wales.
Sir Keir Starmer’s plan to introduce a generational smoking ban and end punters enjoying a cigarette outside pubs appears to have already provided Reform UK with a major opportunity ahead of the 2025 Local Elections.
A recent Yonder opinion poll found that 48 per cent believe pubgoers should be able to continue smoking outside boozers, with 43 per cent supporting Labour’s ban and nine per cent remaining unsure.
Reform UK ‘licking lips’ as ‘snobbish’ Starmer’s smoking ban gives Farage ‘once-in-a-lifetime’PAFarage, who is often snapped enjoying a fag down the pub with a pint in hand, is leading the charge against Labour’s plans.
The Reform UK leader labelled smokers the “heroes of the nation” and vowed to “never go to the pub again if outdoor smoking is banned”.
He is also echoing concerns about the impact of banning smoking outside pubs on the hospitality sector, with the latest crackdown estimated to force almost 6,000 pubs to close.
As for how Reform UK could capitalise on the unpopular ban, a former insider from the populist party told GB News: “Labour are so out of touch with voters across the Red Wall that Farage and Reform have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to smash the two-party system.
“Penalising hard-working Brits for enjoying a fag, or a pint, or fast food, is the kind of snobbish paternalism that drives voters insane.
“If they had their act together, Reform would be easily able to make hay out of the growing frustration out there.
“Not just on the ridiculous smoking ban, but on net zero, immigration, and woke nonsense. However, whether the new chairman has the wherewithal to actually seize this opportunity remains to be seen.”
There has been talk of banning smoking in pub gardensPAA former No10 source also suggested the Tories would struggle to benefit from disaffection with Labour’s nanny-state policies.
“Reform should be licking their lips ahead of the Local Elections when they see Labour veering off road and away from people’s priorities with nanny state policies like this,” they said.
“Whoever leads the Conservative Party will be dead against such measures. But in the meantime, this is only going to send common sense voters over to Reform.”
Almost 13 per cent of British people aged 18 years and over smoke cigarettes, data compiled by the Office for National Statistics has revealed.
Despite the proportion of Britons smoking having decreased in recent years, research from 2019 showed Red Wall constituencies were home to a greater number of smokers than traditional Tory seats.
The research named Hull, Barnsley and Mansfield as the areas of Britain with the highest smoking levels.
Ashford, Barking, Burnley, Great Grimsby, Folkestone & Hythe, Sittingbourne & Sheppey and Slough also made up the top 10.
Wes Streeting has vowed to toughen laws on vaping and smoking through a Bill ‘more ambitious’ than the Tories’ efforts
PA
Reform UK finished second to Labour in Barking, Barnsley North, Barnsley South, Great Grimsby & Cleethorpes, Hull East and Hull West.
The Tories also lost Ashford, Folkestone & Hythe, Mansfield and Sittingbourne & Sheppey on July 4.
Speculation about Reform UK benefitting from Labour’s smoking crackdown comes just days after Health Secretary Wes Streeting pledged to introduce a “more ambitious” bill than the previous Conservative Government.
He said: “When the smoking bill is introduced, it will be more ambitious than the bill introduced by the previous government, and crucially, it will mean that children growing up in our country today will be the first ever smoke-free generation.”
Sir Keir Starmer also claimed “nanny state” measures were sometimes necessary to ensure the British public remained healthy.
However, reiterating Reform UK’s opposition to the smoking ban, a spokesman for the populist party said: “Reform will always support the rights of the individual and champion personal freedom.
“The current proposals by this Labour Government would be disastrous for publicans across the country.
“Reform UK will always support our pubs and ensure they have the ability to survive.”