The Publican Party was formed two years ago by Inverness bar owners Kit Fraser and Don Lawson to fight the General Election on an anti-smoking ban platform.

With yesterday marking the first anniversary of the ban’s introduction in Scotland, the party launched its election campaign in the hope of returning four list candidates to Holyrood.

“We know the ban is now here but we believe is should be reformed,” explained Mr Fraser, who is standing for election in Glasgow. “Our policy is to have separate rooms inside premises for smokers. We are advocating the model they have in Germany where they have come up with a compromise. They don’t treat smokers like second-class citizens there.”

He also accused the Scottish Executive of scoring a spectacular own goal, with cigarette sales up 5 per cent in the last year while drink sales on licensed premises have dropped by 11 per cent.

Mr Lawson, the owner of Johnny Foxes Bar in Bank Street, managed 678 votes as a candidate for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey following a spirited campaign in the 2005, and will stand in the Highlands and Islands. Although the party lost its deposit last time, Mr Fraser claimed it had been responsible for ousting the Labour incumbent, David Stewart, and he remained optimistic about its prospects this time around.

“If it is a hung parliament, we could hold the balance of power,” said Mr Fraser, who runs Hootanannay in Church Street. “You cannot accuse us of being defeatist. Our campaign will be based in the pubs ­­­— and one in three people goes to a pub once a week.”

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