Eamonn Holmes has demanded that smoking be “totally banned”, building on Wes Streeting’s latest proposals.

The GB News star attacked the Labor MP as he appeared via video link to discuss the Government’s plans to extend the smoking ban to some outdoor spaces. He said the measures were necessary as part of his drive to create a “tobacco-free generation” and save Britons from a habit that kills two in three people who take it.

However, Eamonn demanded to know: “Why are you playing with this? Just ban smoking altogether!” He added: “If it’s so horrible, if it’s the biggest killer, why not, you know, do something of its own?”

Concern was etched on his face as he confronted Wes. However, the Labor minister retorted: “‘I never thought I would come on GB News and be accused of not going far enough!’

It came after Wes presented his proposals to turn the next generation of Britons into a smoke-free nation. He proudly told Eamonn: “The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is being presented to Parliament today.

“This will be the biggest health measure in a generation. It will mean that children growing up in our country today will never be able to legally buy cigarettes.

“We are completely eliminating tobacco to create the first smoke-free generation, extending the ban on smoking outside schools and children’s playgrounds, as well as on vaping outside… as part of broader repression targeting children.”

He added that he considered the measures “groundbreaking legislation” after progress made over the years in the fight against smoking failed to do enough to end the deadly habit.

“We still consider smoking as the main cause of mortality: 80,000 deaths per year, one in four cancers directly attributable to smoking and two thirds of smokers killed by their addiction,” he said.

“I think we’ve struck the right balance here,” Wes insisted, describing tobacco as a “particularly addictive and particularly harmful substance.”

He added that among people who take it, “the vast majority say they wish they hadn’t” and end up having trouble giving up the habit.

Wes clarified that for children and young people he felt the best cause of action was preventative action, by removing the program altogether, while older people who had already started should be given the support they need to stop .

He pledged to strike a balance between “public health, lives, livelihoods and freedoms”, but added that action had to be taken because of the tax burden created by the costly treatment of the NHS which have need many smokers.