LABOUR and Tory MPs joined forces last night to save smoking in private clubs - including the North's workingmen's clubs.

A cross-party amendment was tabled to the controversial Health Bill to exempt members-only clubs from a smoking ban now expected to include all pubs.

Last night, the chairman of the all-party group on private clubs - which boasts 145 MPs as supporters - confidently predicted success in winning an exemption.

David Clelland, Labour MP for Tyne Bridge, said he supported a smoking ban in all pubs, but believed private clubs should be allowed to make their own rules.

He added: "This is not an issue about smoking. I would encourage clubs to control smoking within their premises, but they have a right to self-regulation.

"I'm very optimistic that this amendment will get a great deal of support among my colleagues, who know the importance of clubs to their community."

The move will delight workingmen's clubs in the region, some of which had warned the outlawing of smoking could send them to the wall.

But it will infuriate anti-smoking campaigners, who fear the health effects on club staff, and anger pub and bar operators, who will protest that trade will be lost to the private clubs.

The compromise is also likely to run into trouble with the Human Rights Act, because a measure to protect life and health will discriminate against some staff. But the Department of Health is believed to fear the outlawing of smoking in private clubs would force it to extend the ban to prisons and care homes.

However, this will be seen by many as an excuse to save MPs in Labour's Northern heartlands from the embarrassment of having to tell the members of workingmen's clubs to stub out.

Among the 145 members of the all-party group are Tony Blair and chief whip Hilary Armstrong, MP for Durham North-West, neither of which have revealed where they stand on a smoking ban.

The amendment was jointly tabled by Mr Clelland, as chairman of the all-party group, and Conservative health spokesman Andrew Lansley.

Mr Lansley said: "Private members' clubs are not public houses, they are an extension of private space. They should be exempt, except where children have access."

A Government U-turn means Labour MPs will now be offered a free vote on whether a ban should be introduced in all pubs, or simply those that serve food. It is widely expected that the Commons will vote for an outright pub ban when the Bill returns for its final reading within the next three weeks.

* Durham County Council's cabinet voted yesterday to lobby the region's MPs to support a total ban without exemptions.