Labour denied plans to restrict outdoor smoking are an attack on pubs after dire warnings struggling hospitality businesses will go to the wall.

Commons Leader Lucy Powell said the government wants to see a “smoke free country” as she dodged questions about the scale of the ban being planned.

Landlords have warned stopping smokers lighting up in beer gardens could lead to violent clashes as well as hitting takings.

Ms Powell insisted the government would consult the sector before imposing changes.

She said: “I think there has been a consensus for a long time now that we want to see a smoke free country, because the health benefits of that and the benefits to our economy of a smoke free country and a smoke free generation, are huge.”

Ms Powell denied the Government is “attacking the hospitality industry” with its reforms aimed at reducing a “preventable series of deaths” due to smoking.

She told Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips: “We’re certainly not attacking the hospitality industry. We support the hospitality industry. It’s vital to our communities, our high street, our economy.

“I’m not going to pre-empt what is or isn’t going to be in a future piece of legislation. But what I would say is that any such measures to extend some of these issues around smoking will be done in full consultation with business.”

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of trade body UKHospitality, has warned a ban on smoking in outdoor spaces “comes with the prospect of serious economic harm to hospitality venues”.

“This ban would not only affect pubs and nightclubs, but hotels, cafes and restaurants that have all invested significantly in good faith in outdoor spaces and continue to face financial challenges,” she warned.