A group of senior MPs has dismissed the government's plans for a partial smoking ban in public places as "unfair, unjust, inefficient and unworkable".

The Commons health select committee, which is studying the proposed outlawing of public smoking other than in clubs and pubs that do not serve food, said the partial ban "defies logic" and is "a recipe for chaos".

The Labour-dominated committee said yesterday that a complete ban was the only way to protect people from secondhand smoke.

Attempts to find a compromise between a full and partial ban have split the cabinet. In addition, the chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, recently told the committee that he had come close to resigning when the government refused to back a complete public ban. The report is likely to fuel backbench opposition to the proposals when they come before the Commons next month.

A complete ban has operated successfully in Ireland for some time and Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are due to follow suit.

However, members' clubs and "wet" pubs in England will be exempted under plans published in Labour's manifesto amid fears of a backlash.

Kevin Barron, the Labour committee chairman, said it would be "very difficult" in all conscience for fellow MPs to vote for a partial ban. He said the partial ban "protected political egos, not ... public health".

He added: "The government is missing out on a golden opportunity to dramatically improve the public health of this country. The current proposals fly in the face of medical opinion, and will do nothing to protect those most at risk."

Although exemptions for prisons and military bases were also questioned, MPs were most concerned about protecting the large number of staff working in bars and clubs. Those where smoking would continue were situated in the most deprived areas, the committee said.

It also claimed that a partial ban would be open to legal challenges and create confusion, making it difficult to enforce.

The committee noted that the Irish ban had been successful because it had been clear and had attracted widespread political support. "In England, unfortunately, we find muddle and confusion, cabinet wrangles and half-hearted political commitment," it said.

Mr Barron said he hoped ministers would listen to his committee and give MPs a free vote on the issue.