Tory backlash over PM’s ‘nannying’ smoking ban

RISHI Sunak was forced to deny his vaping and smoking crackdown was ‘un-Conservative’ yesterday after tory MPs accused him of a ‘nanny state’ intervention.

The Prime Minister also vowed to press ahead with plans for a total ban on the sale of disposable vapes and on selling cigarettes to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009.

While it is already illegal to sell the products to anyone under 18, evidence shows the cheaper, smaller and more colourful disposable version are behind the rise in young people vaping.

In 2021, only 7.7 per cent of vapers aged 11 to 17 used disposable vapes, but this increased to 52 per cent in 2022 and 69 per cent in 2023.

But the policies have infuriated tories on the libertarian Right of the party, with former prime minister Liz truss branding the move ‘profoundly un-Conservative’.

She said: ‘Banning the sale of tobacco products to anyone born in 2009 or later will create an absurd situation where adults enjoy different rights based on their birth date.

‘A tory government should not be seeking to extend the nanny state. this will only give succour to those who wish to ban choices of which they don’t approve.’

Ms truss is likely to vote against the measure and pointed to New Zealand, which reversed its worldleading tobacco ban after a change in government.

But during a school visit yesterday, Mr Sunak said he was taking ‘ strong action’ to ‘stamp out’ youth vaping.

He said ‘some people will disagree with me’, adding: ‘I don’t think there’s anything un-Conservative about caring about our children’s health. I respect that some people will disagree with me on this, but I think this is the right long-term thing for our country.

‘Smoking causes one in four cancer deaths. It’s responsible for a hospital admission every minute.

‘and if we don’t do something about it, hundreds of thousands will die in the coming years.’

tory MP Giles Watling has written to Mr Sunak to argue the proposal should be replaced by increasing the age people can buy tobacco to 21.

he said: ‘ the Government should be concentrating on the really big and important issues of the day – Ukraine, Gaza, the cost of living crisis and, of course, immigration.

‘ this smoking policy is a sideshow, a distraction, and will not do the Conservative Party any good.’

Some tory backbenchers are expected to back an amendment to raise the smoking age to 21 as an alternative to the PM’s plan.

Mr Sunak has not yet decided whether to give MPs a ‘free vote’ on the plan.

however, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said his party will back the measure, meaning it is almost certain to become law.

the ban on disposable vapes will use powers already in place under the Environmental Protection act and is expected to come into force early next year.

Under the new plans, flavours marketed at children will be restricted, packaging will be made plainer and vapes will be displayed out of children’s sight in shops.

anyone selling vapes to children will be fined £100. Vaping alternatives – such as nicotine pouches – will also be banned for children.

‘This policy is a distraction’