TWO Bradford MPs failed in a last-gasp bid to block a ban on smoking in cars with children.

Conservatives Kris Hopkins (Keighley) and Philip Davies (Shipley) were among 74 MPs who voted against regulations to introduce the measure, from October 1.

But it was passed overwhelmingly by the Commons – with a majority of 268 - to “protect young people from the serious health harms of smoked tobacco”.

Dr Penny Woods, of the British Lung Foundation, said: "This is a tremendous victory for the half a million children being exposed to second-hand smoke in the family car every week in England.”

But Mr Davies said: “This is another triumph for the nanny state and another nail in the coffin for parental responsibility. It is also unenforceable.

“Nobody can explain why it is worse to smoke in car for a two-minute journey than for hour after hour in a small living room.

“This will inevitably lead to the health zealots wanting a ban on smoking in the home with a snoopers’ charter to police it.”

Mr Hopkins said he would like to ban smoking “full stop”, adding: “And I say that as a former smoker myself.”

But he said: “I am not in favour of bringing forward changes in the law which, in my view, are unenforceable. I don’t believe it is realistic to properly enforce a ban on smoking in cars.”

Labour MP Gerry Sutcliffe (Bradford South) backed the ban, but both Liberal Democrat MP (David Ward) and Respect’s George Galloway (Bradford West) missed the vote.

There have been suggestions that the police oppose being asked to enforce another driving rule, one not directly linked to the safety of motorists.

But supporters of the ban argue that 300,000 UK children are taken to their GP with smoking-related illnesses every year.

One cigarette in the car - even with the window open - creates a greater concentration of second-hand smoke than a whole evening's smoke in a pub used to, research has found.

The Government initially opposed the legislation, but was forced to offer a free vote after the House of Lords backed a ban last year.

Professor Kevin Fenton, national director at Public Health England, said: “Many parents aren't aware that more than 80 per cent of second-hand smoke is invisible and odourless.

“A completely smokefree home and car is a strong and positive step towards protecting the health of our children.”

The ban comes as a consultation has been taking place on proposals to ban under-18s from buying electronic cigarettes.

Bradford Council immediately started its own campaign following the outcome of the vote.

Joanne Nykol, its tobacco lead, said: "We’d ask parents to think again about smoking in their cars before the law comes into effect on October 1 and use it as a reason to quit smoking for good.

"Secondhand smoke is a real threat to children's health and can increase the risk of cot death, glue ear, asthma and other respiratory diseases.

"There is no safe level for smoking and in vehicles it can result in high levels of secondhand smoke even when windows are open. Bradford Council welcomes anything that reduces the number of people smoking in the district as we work towards creating a smoke free generation in the future.”

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