The indoor smoking ban is set to be extended to certain outdoor settings across the UK, the Government has announced.
As part of a long-mentioned plan to create a ‘smokefree generation’ by phasing-out the sale of tobacco products to anyone aged 15 or younger nationwide from this year, and ultimately “break the cycle of addiction and disadvantage”, the Government has now introduced a new Tobacco and Vapes Bill to Parliament.
Health Ministers says the Bill will bring about tougher action to better protect the public, the NHS, and the economy from the harms of smoking.
As recent statistics have shown that smoking claims around 80,000 lives a year in the UK, which costs taxpayers £3.1 billion annually due to pressures on the NHS, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill forms part of the Government’s reform agenda to “shift the focus of healthcare from sickness to prevention”.
Ultimately, the Bill is aiming to address one of the biggest risk factors driving poor health – smoking.
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As well as the phasing-out of tobacco to anyone aged 15 or younger, the Government says it’s also considering giving powers to extend the indoor smoking ban to specific outdoor spaces – with children’s playgrounds, the outside of schools, and hospitals, all being considered, subject to consultation.
Extending restrictions in places that are currently smoke free to also become vape free, especially in areas where there are children and young adults, is also being considered.
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“These measures will help protect children from becoming hooked on nicotine while continuing to enable adult smokers to use vapes as a quit aid,” a Government spokesperson explained.
The new Tobacco and Vapes Bill is set to sit alongside the already-announced ban on vape advertising and sponsorship, as well as the powers to restrict the flavours, display, and packaging of all types of vapes.
It also follows the news that disposable vapes are due to be banned from 1 June next year, which was announced towards the end of last month.
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Our Tobacco and Vapes Bill will protect the public, NHS and economy from the harms of smoking.
We plan to:
🚭 ban smoking outside schools, children’s playgrounds and hospitals
— Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) November 5, 2024
“Unless we act to help people stay healthy, the rising tide of ill-health in our society threatens to overwhelm and bankrupt our NHS,” explained Health Sectretary, Wes Streeting.
“Prevention is better than cure. This Government is taking bold action to create the first smokefree generation, clamp down on kids getting hooked on nicotine through vapes, and protect children and vulnerable people from the harms of second-hand smoke.
Streeting says this “historic” legislation will “save thousands of lives” and “protect the NHS”.
“By building a healthy society, we will also help to build a healthy economy, with fewer people off work sick,” he concluded.
Featured Image – Pxhere
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Benjamin Mendy wins legal case against Manchester City over unpaid wages
Danny Jones
Ex-Manchester City player Benjamin Mendy has officially won the legal case against his former employers over unpaid wages.
The French defender was suspended from Man City without pay in September 2021 after being charged with six counts of rape and one instance of sexual assault before ultimately leaving the club last June.
Despite multiple allegations and the high-profile case going to trial in August 2022, Mendy was eventually cleared of all counts in July 2023 and has been demanding he receive his ‘lost’ finances earned at the Etihad ever since.
Mendy took legal action against City last November and now, nearly a full year on, the 30-year-old fullback has won his claim against them and is expected to receive most of the outstanding wages accumulated while he was in custody and on bail, as he was still unable to play due to FA sanctions.
As detailed in an official judgement summary, “The result of this decision is that Mr Mendy will be entitled to receive the majority of his unpaid salary, although not all of it.”
BREAKING: Benjamin Mendy has been successful in his employment claim against Manchester City 🚨
In her judgement, published on November 6, Judge Joanne Dunlop's concluded that Manchester City were not entitled to withhold Mendy's pay while he was not in custody. pic.twitter.com/dRWmfHpfgO
The former Premier League star initially entered into an employment tribunal to claim around £11 million in compensation for the wages he missed out on during the period between his suspension in September 2021 and City letting him go in the summer of 2023.
Mendy’s wages were worth around £500,000 a month after joining the Manchester club back in 2017 for a then-world-record fee for a defender, £52m. While he was unsuccessful in claiming all unpaid wages back, City are expected to hand over approximately £8.5m.
Writing on social media, the Frenchman welcomed the decision which found that the club had “unlawfully made deductions from my wages for a total period of 16 months and 23 days.”
Mendy urged the club to do the “honourable thing” and pay the outstanding wages promptly, along with other amounts included in his contract, so as to “finally put this difficult part of my life behind me.”
He went on to conclude the statement by thanking family, agent and legal team for their support and while it’s unclear how soon Man City will be forced to cough up the sum, the footballer will be playing this weekend as usual. You can read his full statement down below:
The club themselves are yet to respond to the decision but will be required to pay out the number within a certain period by law. Mendy has been back playing football in his home country at Ligue 2 club, FC Lorient, who he signed for just days after being acquitted even despite huge backlash.
Meanwhile, their well-publicised case against UEFA and the outstanding 115+ charges regarding FFP and PSR has now begun but isn’t expected to be settled for some time.
Featured Images — Soccer.ru (via Wikimedia Commons)/The Manc Group
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Three arrested after Bonfire Night chaos sees fireworks thrown at Manchester police and fire fighters
Emily Sergeant
Three males have been arrested after fireworks were thrown at police officers and fire fighters in Manchester last night.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said officers were called out and quickly responded to reports of a large group of young people causing disorder and damage by lighting a fire on waste ground and throwing fireworks and missiles on Vine Street in Gorton just after 4:15pm on Bonfire Night yesterday (5 November).
Upon attending, fireworks were aimed at police officers and also colleagues from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS), but thankfully, no injuries were sustained.
An investigation was immediately launched following shocking incident, GMP confirmed – with three males, aged between 16 and 18, all arrested on suspicion of causing violent disorder.
#ARREST | Last night we arrested three teenagers to stop further disorder in #Gorton and our enquiries are ongoing.
When attending, fireworks were aimed at our officers and also colleagues from the fire service. Thankfully no injuries were sustained.
They remain in custody for questioning at this time, with further arrests expected to follow.
The police are now appealing to the public for information, with Superintendent Richard McNamara, of GMP’s City of Manchester North District, saying: “It is shocking that we are seeing fireworks being used as a weapon towards emergency services as they try and keep our communities safe.”
He continued: “We know incidents like this will rightly cause concern to members of the local community and those people who enjoyed Bonfire Night safely.
Police on the scene of Bonfire Night disorder in Gorton / Credit: GMP
“But I want to reassure the public that this is an isolated incident, which was dealt with very quickly by local neighbourhood officers with assistance from officers from our Specialist Operations branch, who brought the incident to a safe conclusion.
“We have also worked alongside our partners in the area throughout the evening by deploying joint patrols with youth services and colleagues in the fire service.”
Superintendent McNamara added that investigating officers are “pursuing several lines of enquiry that will ensure that all those responsible are brought to justice”.
Anyone with any information is asked to come forward and speak to GMP by contacting 101, quoting incident number 2294 of 5/11/24, or details can instead be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Emily Sergeant -
6th November 2024 
