UK MPs Approve Plan to Ban Cigarette Sales to Those Born After 2009
Championed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the measures endured despite opposition from prominent figures within the Conservative Party, including two former prime ministers.
News Mania Desk / Agnibeena Ghosh/19th April 2024
Members of Parliament of the United Kingdom have voted in favor of a proposal to prohibit individuals born after 2009 from purchasing cigarettes, effectively paving the way for the measure to become law. Championed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the measures endured despite opposition from prominent figures within the Conservative Party, including two former prime ministers.
During parliamentary debates, Health Secretary Victoria Atkins emphasized the importance of prioritizing public health over individual liberties, asserting that “there is no liberty in addiction.”The Tobacco and Vapes Bill secured passage by a significant margin, with 383 votes in favor and 67 against.
If enacted, the legislation would position the UK among the nations with the strictest smoking regulations globally.Inspired by a similar law in New Zealand, which was later repealed following a change in government, the UK’s initiative aims to cultivate a “smoke-free generation,” as stated by Ms. Atkins in the House of Commons.
Despite the government’s backing, dissenting voices were heard within the Conservative Party, with former Prime Minister Liz Truss among those voting against the bill, citing concerns about encroachments on personal freedom.
Boris Johnson, another former prime minister, derided the proposed smoking ban as “absolutely nuts” during a speech at a Conservative conference in Ottawa, Canada.
Conservative MPs were granted a free vote on the bill, allowing them to vote based on personal conviction rather than party lines. Nonetheless, the bill received substantial support from Labour, ensuring its passage through Parliament.
While further parliamentary procedures, including votes in the House of Lords, are required before the bill becomes law, there is a possibility that it could be enacted before the anticipated general election in the latter half of 2024.
Labour’s shadow health and social care secretary, Wes Streeting, criticized Sunak for granting a free vote, accusing him of jeopardizing the bill’s prospects due to reluctance in challenging dissent within his party.
In total, 178 Conservative MPs backed the proposal, while 57 voted against it, including Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch and Conservative Party Deputy Chair Jonathan Gullis.
Foreign Office Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan expressed reservations but ultimately abstained from voting, along with several other Conservative MPs, including Penny Mordaunt, leader of the House of Commons.Lee Anderson, a former deputy chair of the Conservative Party who recently defected to Reform UK, aligned himself with those opposing the bill.Sunak first unveiled his proposal to ban cigarette sales to individuals born after January 1, 2009, during his conference speech in October 2023.
