Smoking ban plan 'is a smokescreen to deflect from Labour's austerity doom and gloom'

The SNP’s Westminster leader has described Sir Keir Starmer’s plan to ban smoking in beer gardens and other outdoor venues as a “smokescreen” to deflect from the UK government’s austerity “doom and gloom”.

Mr Flynn noted smoking causes around 9,000 deaths per year in Scotland, putting “significant pressure” on the NHS.

Although agreeing that would make a “fair and reasonable starting point” for any discussion in relation to smoking bans, the MP for Aberdeen South claimed the proposed move by the UK government was an “attempt to deflect”.

He told Sky News Breakfast: “Because they know that the public are very much focused on the fact that the first 100 days or so in office of this Labour Party appears to be doom and gloom, that things are going to get worse.

“And they don’t want people talking about austerity, so what they are doing is suggesting that people in some way shouldn’t be able to smoke outside.

“It appears to be using a hammer to crack a nut when it comes to some of the challenges which face the NHS, and which face those individuals who do indeed smoke.

“But ultimately, this is a smokescreen from the bigger issues of the day, which is the austerity agenda that the Labour Party are pushing.”

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Speaking to Sky News on Thursday, First Minister John Swinney said he was “unnerved” by the prime minister’s speech on Tuesday, saying he interprets it as a “continuation of the austerity agenda of the Conservatives”.

Mr Flynn believes there will be “less money to do the things that we want to do”, but elected members and the party must come together to “take a message of optimism that things can and will get better to the public”.

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Mr Flynn was speaking ahead of the SNP conference, which is taking place in Edinburgh between Friday and Sunday.

The conference is Mr Swinney’s first as party leader in almost two decades and comes after the SNP lost dozens of MPs in July’s general election, falling to just nine seats.

The party’s drubbing at the polls followed months of internal turmoil and an ongoing police investigation into the SNP’s funding and finances.

Mr Flynn accepted it’s been a “challenging time” for his party.

He said: “That’s why it’s so important that today we come together, we reflect upon where we’ve been, how we’ve managed to get ourselves into this situation, but more importantly, to discuss how we refocus, reprioritise, and re-engage with the people of Scotland to renew the trust that we’ve lost.

“And ultimately, towards 2026, what their priorities are and deliver an SNP victory.

“Now, that’s going to require some frank and honest debate. But I think that’s a positive thing, I think it’s perhaps overdue.”

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Mr Flynn would not get drawn on committing to a timeline for delivering a second Scottish independence referendum.

Instead, he said his party must focus on improving people’s lives and aligning that with “some hope and optimism”.

Speaking about Indyref2, Mr Flynn said: “I don’t think it’s fair or reasonable for me to put a timescale upon that, because it’s for the public to determine what they want and when they want it.”

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