Sunak faces Tory revolt over ‘absolutely nuts’ smoking ban plan
RISHI SUNAK is facing a revolt next week over his proposed smoking ban after it was criticised by two former prime ministers and his ex-home secretary.
MPS will debate the legislation for the first time on Tuesday, just over a fortnight before local elections that could prompt fresh calls for the Prime Minister to be replaced as Conservative leader.
Under the plan, the smoking age would be raised each year until it applied to the whole population, while disposable vapes would be banned outright and reusable ones limited to four flavours.
Tory MPS will be given a free vote, meaning they can oppose the Government without facing any disciplinary consequences.
One backbencher estimated that around 100 of his colleagues could defy Mr Sunak, which would make it the biggest rebellion of his premiership.
However, even a major rebellion is unlikely to derail the legislation because it has Labour’s support.
The Government’s working majority is now 51, meaning only 26 Tory rebels would be needed to leave Mr Sunak reliant on Labour votes. To force a defeat, at least 274 Tories would need to rebel, subject to how other parties voted.
That is highly unlikely because it would involve dozens of ministers voting against the Government.
A source close to Suella Braverman, who was sacked as home secretary by Mr Sunak in November, told The Telegraph she was “not a fan” of the proposals. And it is understood that Liz Truss, the former prime minister, will vote against the ban on Tuesday, and that she hopes to catch the eye of Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons Speaker, to make a speech criticising her successor’s flagship policy.
Ms Truss has called the proposals “profoundly unconservative” and an example of the “nanny state” in action, prompting Mr Sunak to respond that there was “[nothing] unconservative about caring for our children’s health”.
Meanwhile, Boris Johnson called Mr Sunak’s plan “absolutely nuts” as he criticised the wider state of the Conservative Party at an event in Canada.
Speaking at a gathering of conservatives in Ottawa on Wednesday, the former prime minister said: “We are, on the whole, in favour of freedom, and it is that single Anglo-saxon idea of freedom that I think unites conservatives, or should unite conservatives.
“When I look at some of the things that we are doing now, or that are being done in the name of conservatism, I think they are absolutely nuts.
“When the party of Winston Churchill wants to ban cigars, donnez-moi un break, as they say in Quebec. It’s just mad.”
Although dozens of Tory MPS are understood to have concerns about the smoking ban, rebels are split about whether to oppose the Bill outright or attempt to amend it. There will not be the opportunity for changes until it moves to its report stage following Tuesday’s vote.
Philip Davies, a senior Tory backbencher, confirmed that he would vote against the policy at its third reading further down the line, while another prominent figure said: “I would be surprised if the noes were less than 100.”
The vote will mark the start of what could be a difficult few weeks for Mr Sunak, with the Tories projected to lose as many as half of their councillors up for election on May 2.