Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free
Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.
Rishi Sunak’s plan to ban smoking for anyone in the UK born after 2008 has exposed splits within his Conservative party, with dozens of Tory MPs expected to vote against the public health policy on Tuesday.
The prime minister pledged last October to create the first “smoke-free generation” with a new law to stop children aged 14 or younger ever being sold cigarettes legally in Britain.
On Tuesday evening, MPs are due to vote on the tobacco and vapes bill for the first time during its second reading in parliament.
Sunak has justified the ban on the basis that smoking causes one in four cancer deaths and kills tens of thousands of people a year with most people picking up the habit before they turned 20.
Some polls have suggested that more than 70 per cent of Conservative voters support the move.
But several high-profile Tory politicians have opposed the policy, including former prime minister Boris Johnson, who last week called it “absolutely nuts” when addressing a conference in Canada.
Liz Truss, Johnson’s shortlived successor, has dubbed the draft legislation a “nanny state” policy, saying in a media interview: “We’re a free country. We shouldn’t be telling people not to smoke and I worry about where it will lead.”
Senior Tory figures who are considering voting against the party leadership are understood to include Kemi Badenoch, business secretary, who has previously indicated her discomfort over bans. Alister Jack, Scotland secretary, is also expected to abstain.
Sunak has give a free vote on the bill, meaning that legislators can freely oppose the policy without having to resign.
The legislation is expected to pass despite any rebellion as it has the backing of the main opposition Labour party as well as the Liberal Democrats.
The bill will also restrict the range of colours and flavours of ecigarettes to make them less attractive to children. The government is also banning the sale of disposable vapes.
The UK’s smoking ban was originally inspired by an initiative in New Zealand, although that country dropped its policy last November to save money for tax cuts.
There are still 6mn adults smokers in the UK despite public health campaigns, heavy taxes on tobacco and visual health warnings on cigarette packets.
Professor Chris Whitty, chief medical officer for England, said on Tuesday morning that the aim of the legislation was to ensure that no youngsters could become addicted to smoking.
“We do expect that over time to lead to essentially smoking dying out . . . which would be an enormous public health achievement,” he told the BBC.
Whitty added that smoking was an enormous public health challenge: “Smoking is a product designed to addict as early as possible and keep people addicted for life.”
The proposed new law will give trading standards officers the power to issue on-the-spot fines of £100 to shops selling either tobacco or vapes to children.
Read the full article here