Concern: Public want ban claims ASH

Anti-smoking campaigners have called on the government to deliver on its pledge to ban tobacco advertising.

To back up their call, campaign group ASH published a new opinion poll which found 63 per cent of the public supported a ban on advertising.

The group claimed the public is still convinced the government's decision is influenced by the Bernie Ecclestone donation affair in which the boss of Formula 1 made a £1 million donation to Labour.

The poll, conducted by ICM Research, also found 48 per cent of the public believed the government has delayed legislation to ban tobacco advertising because of lobbying by the tobacco industry and influential figures such as the motor racing billionaire.

A ban on advertising has been a Labour Party manifesto commitment in both 1997 and 2001 but the bill that would have outlawed magazine, billboard and shop ads was dropped in the run up to the general election.

The issue has been a continuing problem for Labour since the Ecclestone affair erupted in November 1997. The billionaire made his donation shortly after a Downing Street meeting with Tony Blair. He argued racing teams at that time were heavily reliant on tobacco sponsorship and asked for an exemption from the ban for formula one racing, arguing that as many as 200,000 jobs could be lost.

He got the exclusion and, following a wave of media interest, his money back but the tycoon has remained silent on the issue ever since.

Leading cancer charities backed the ASH findings and challenged the government, saying that after four years it was time to disprove the public's suspicions.Professor Gordon McVie, director general of The Cancer Research Campaign said: "It's hardly surprising the public is so cynical. Health professionals, the general public and even the government have stated that they are opposed to tobacco advertising. Only the tobacco industry is in favour of it. The government claimed that they want to ban tobacco advertising. Now is the time to deliver."Sir Paul Nurse of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund said a ban was the only way the government would meet its health targets."By imposing a ban today, the government would be well on the way to achieving its Cancer Plan target to reduce smoking rates by 4 per cent. But each day they delay, these targets move further out of reach. Only last month, for example, youth smoking statistics suggested that more kids were taking up the habit," he said.John Connolly of ASH called on ministers to back the private members' bill due to come before MPs in the next session."This poll shows just how out of step with public opinion the government is over banning tobacco advertising. A ban would save lives, cost next to nothing and be very popular. I can't think of much other legislation you can say that about. A private members' bill to ban tobacco advertising will be debated in the Autumn. The government should back this or introduce its own bill immediately parliament returns," he said.