Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Cameron said: “As a former smoker and someone who believes strongly in liberties and someone who did not support it at the time, it has worked.”
He was responding to a Labour backbencher’s question about a smoking ban in cars when children were present, on which the prime minister said he would have a “serious think”.
In 2006, a huge majority of MPs voted to ban smoking from all pubs and private members’ clubs in England. Cameron, then leader of the opposition, missed the vote following the birth of his third child.
The ban in workplaces and other public places first came into effect in Scotland in 2006, before being extended to Wales, Northern Ireland and England a year later.