![]() ![]() “But I have spent a long time weighing up this decision. I know not everyone in this hall will agree with me on this,” he said. “For a Conservative, measures that restrict choice are never easy. Mr Sunak acknowledged the number of smokers in Britain had already fallen by two-thirds since the 1970s but claimed further action would represent “the right thing for our kids”. He confirmed Tory MPs will be free to vote against forthcoming legislation on the ban in anticipation of a rebellion in his own ranks. Mr Sunak announced the smoke-free policy in his keynote speech at this year’s Conservative Party conference in Manchester, acknowledging at the time it would be unpopular in some quarters. “This is an important long-term decision and step to deliver a smoke-free generation which remains critically important.” Our position remains unchanged, we are committed to that. When asked whether the Prime Minister would change his mind, a No 10 spokesman said: “No. I really hope the Government will reflect and quietly drop it.” ![]() “Are you really going to have a situation in 40 years’ time when someone is asking somebody who is 60 years old for their ID to make sure they’re 60 and not 61? The whole situation is absolute nonsense. Philip Davies, the MP for Shipley, said: “I commend the New Zealand government for seeing common sense, and I very much hope the UK Government will follow suit. ![]() While Downing Street insisted it was “committed” to pressing ahead with the smoking ban – which it now looks set to become the only country in the world to introduce – senior Tory backbenchers called on Mr Sunak to think again. The Prime Minister announced a phased ban on cigarettes last month, with the age of sale rising by one year every year from 2027 onwards under the plans.īut Conservative MPs urged him to change course after New Zealand’s recently elected coalition government tore up the country’s own proposals to prohibit anyone born after 2008 from ever buying tobacco.Ĭhristopher Luxon, the incoming prime minister, confirmed he would abolish legislation passed by Jacinda Ardern, one of his Left-wing predecessors, in December last year, shortly before Ms Ardern’s unexpected departure from politics. Rishi Sunak is facing fresh demands to axe his “nanny state” smoking ban after the flagship policy that it followed was torn up by the New Zealand government. ![]()
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