British MPs tonight overwhelmingly backed a ban on smoking in all English pubs and clubs after a dramatic intervention by Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt.
In a landmark free vote, the Commons agreed to extend the ban to private members' clubs by 384 votes to 184, majority 200.
The result was greeted with loud cheers in a crowded Commons chamber. Ms Hewitt refused to say whether she favoured a blanket ban even as the impassioned three-hour debate got under way.
But shortly before MPs trooped into the division lobbies, a spokesman announced that she would vote for a complete ban on smoking in licensed premises.
He said Ms Hewitt had been swayed by arguments in the report stage debate on the Health Bill.
The Bill originally proposed a partial ban, exempting pubs which do not serve food. But after Cabinet divisions on the issue and the threat of a backbench revolt, MPs were offered a free vote and Ms Hewitt moved to ban smoking in all pubs, with a possible exemption for private clubs.
It was Public Health Minister Caroline Flint who tabled the successful amendment to include private members' clubs in the ban.
Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley taunted Ms Hewitt over the switch in policy, pointing to the "utter humiliation of the Secretary of State voting against her own legislation".
