Peter
I totally agree with your comments. I have already complained to my MP about it and I have also told her that I will not vote for her anymore. I am doing more than with-holding my vote for labour, I am voting for another party instead, something I have never done in my life.
I am working class though and see the current government as serving big business and big pharamceutical companies only. The responsibility of being in government rather than in opposition has totally 'gone to their heads'.
I am a smoker, so unfortunately I am one of those who is causing the pub's decline, which I do regret. But how am I supposed to visit somewhere to relax and let the strains of the working week empty my head for a few small hours when I am not catered for? I've done what I've been told to do and walked outside for a smoke, but I'm sorry, it doesn't work and totally ruins my evening.
When I go to the pub after a hard day, I just want to sit down with a drink on my table and enjoy the evening.
Why this ban has to be so draconian is beyond belief. Let's cater for everybody in this country because the ban as it stands surely isn't working

Hasn't everyone fallen in yet, this government is going full steam ahead to ruin everything in this country that ordinary every day people get enjoyment from, they want to bring us to our knees. Almost all MPs sitting in this government are either ex-communists, marxist or trots. Champagne socialists is what they are, keep the little people in their places is their idea of democracy. Don't bother with the MPs they're all the same, they come across all sympathetic, they're not, liars is what they are, they lied about the smoking ban experiment not hurting the leisure industry just as they lied about post offices. Don't believe any politician that says they're campaigning for them, they're lying. They had to seek approval from the EU to subsidise post offices, and to do this an EU Directive states that 2,500 have to close, yet none ever mention this. So as far as the government are concerned pubs have had their day, big Pubcos is all they're interested in, money people and the EU. And people still believe Labour are for the ordinary working people. It's an evil ruling class we now have in office, dedicatedd to destroying this country.

I couldnt agree more with Peter Day and personally I wont be voting for any of the 3 main stream parties, they are all the same, PC correct and they dont believe in Freedom at all. Smoking is perfectly legal and condoned for sale by government who then have the nerve to tell publicans they carnt allow it on their PRIVATE property. they would rather see these businesses go to the wall than admit they were wrong. All this rubbish about getting people back to work whilst at the same time they are putting them on the dole. They say tobacco smells this government stinks.

Wholeheartedly agree with ealier comments.
MP's are out of touch and scared to death of saying something that may be costrued as "politically incorrect".
The fact that they are completely altering the working man's way of life, certainly in respect of his leisure persuits appears irrelevant.
They say that people drink too much so introduce 24 hour opening. Gambling is seen by many as a problem so they legalise casinos and have plans for "super" casinos. Cigarettes cause cancer. If they really wanted to stop people smoking they would ban them altogether as they do with other drugs.
Who's kidding who?

"..tell your MP and/or withhold your vote for them at future elections.."
I think my MP (for Don Valley) has taken the hint on that without expressly saying so.
But we must remember it was her, Caroline Flint MP who pushed the No Smoking ban regardless of public opinion.