The British government backed away from a total ban on smoking in public places last night after days of fierce wrangling between ministers ended in an uneasy compromise exempting private clubs and pubs not serving food.

The deal was strongly criticised by anti-smoking campaigners, doctors and Labour MPs, who protested at the ‘chaos’ in the cabinet and said that the government would face backbench pressure for a stronger ban.
Today the government will publish a health improvement and protection bill that will include a ban on smoking in enclosed workplaces and public places, covering 99 per cent of the workforce. (pi)