‘Keir hates love!’: smoking area users decry potential impact of a ban

Opponents of Labour proposal - including non-smokers - say smoking areas have brought together countless lovers and friends

When Lara Bose heard about Labour's proposed ban on outdoor smoking areas, she was shocked. Literally living with the person I got with in the smoking area three years ago. Keir hates love!" she posted on X.

Bose, 21, met her partner, Ben, in the outdoor smoking section of a venue in London three years ago, where they shared a cigarette and their first kiss. Describing their fateful encounter at the Under the Bridge venue at Stamford Bridge stadium in 2021, Bose said she spotted Ben, a student at the same university, and found him attractive and charming.