Ipswich Primary Care Trust wants to debate a smoking ban

His call follows news on Tuesday that smoking could be banned in pubs, clubs and restaurants in Ipswich, Suffolk, if the Ipswich Primary Care Trust (PCT) proposal wins support.

Mr Russell, a Liberal Democrat, said a ban in workplaces was "very reasonable if you don't smoke and you don't want to breath in somebody else's smoke".

"If they (smokers) want to end their own lives prematurely, that's their concern," he said.

Commons motion

"My concern is those dieing breathing in somebody else's smoke."

Mr Russell is backing a House of Commons motion asking the government to follow the example of Ireland, where smoking is banned in the workplace.

In Ipswich, the PCT wants to debate the idea of increasing smoke-free zones around the town to help prevent illnesses caused by smoking and passive smoking.