PUBLICANS have forced Colchester’s MP to defend his support for the smoking ban.

A group of landlords met the MP yesterday to tell they fear the ban is killing the pub trade.

Licensees told Mr Russell they wanted a change in the law to allow individual licensees to decide if smoking should be allowed in their pubs.

Paul Lofthouse, of the Queen’s Head, Coggeshall, said: “Since the ban was introduced two years ago, nationally, 23 per cent of bar staff have lost their jobs – about 64,100 people – and that was before the recession even started.

“We have now seen the closure of more than 5,000 pubs, 200 bingo halls and 250 working men’s clubs nationwide, as a direct result of the ban.

“Some people argue the recession and high beer duty is responsible, but the reality is duty has always risen and pubs have always done better in times of recession.

“The industry is in major decline. Something must be done.”

Mr Russell told yesterday’s Colchester and East Essex Licensed Victualler’s Association gathering he blamed national pub chains and supermarket sales of alcohol for the decline, not the smoking ban.

He said: “We shouldn’t target the smoking ban as the sole reason for what is happening in the pub industry. It is a reason, but it is not the whole reason.

“A variety of things have gone wrong. Supermarkets selling alcohol cheaper than bottles of water is a contributing factor. “As far as the medical profession is concerned, far too many people in this country are dying because of smoking.”

The latest figures from the anti-ban campaign suggest 52 British pubs are closing every week – about seven a day.

Mr Russell added: “I don’t want to see neighbourhood pubs close down.

“They are part of our heritage and an important part of our social fabric.”

The smoking ban was introduced in the UK in July 2007. Similar bans have recently been overturned in Germany and Croatia.