It is a charge commonly directed at left-of-centre parties that they want to make everything one of three things: free, illegal or mandatory. But unlike Homer Simpson, the UK government does not intend to stand here and watch you smoke every one of those cigarettes to teach you a lesson.
Instead, leaked plans suggest that ministers are considering banning smoking in some outdoor spaces in a bid to improve public health. These could include beer gardens, outside football stadiums and small parks. On a visit to Paris, where he met with French president Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer confirmed this was indeed under consideration.
