North East Cambridgeshire MP Steve Barclay has revealed he backed a new bill which will place a ban on people smoking in cars where children are present.

Mr Barclay said he felt children deserved the “same protection” as pub goers – who benefited from a ban in 2007 – and went as far as to praise the last Labour government for introducing it.

He said: “As a general rule I think the Government should try to avoid interfering in people’s lives. However cars are confined spaces and it is not sensible to allow some parents to subject their children to second-hand smoke which damages their health.

“Respiratory complications such as asthma, meningitis and other serious lung conditions are all linked to second hand smoking.

“There are already bans on smoking in cars in countries including Australia, Canada, South Africa and the US and it is time we caught up.

“The last Labour Government deserve credit for banning smoking in pubs, which as a non smoker I have benefited from. It is overdue that we now ensure children in cars receive the same protection.”

South East Cambridgeshire MP, Sir Jim Paice, was not present for the vote.