Sunak Bill to create ‘smoke-free’ generation clears first hurdle in Commons

RISHI Sunak’s proposal to ban young people from ever being able to legally smoke tobacco has cleared its first Commons hurdle, despite a swathe of Conservative MPs objecting to it in a blow to his authority.

MPs voted 383 to 67, majority 316, to give the Tobacco and Vapes Bill a second reading.

The legislation, seen by the Prime Minister as a key part of his longterm legacy, would make it illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone born after January 1, 2009, with the aim of creating a “smoke-free” generation.

It does not criminalise current smokers, but is aimed at preventing the harms caused by smoking, the leading causes of preventable illness and death in the UK.

Conservative MPs were given a free vote on the Bill, meaning those who voted against the Government’s position will not face punishment.

This allowed serving ministers, including Business Secretary and future Tory leadership hopeful Kemi Badenoch, to publicly reveal they would vote to reject the Bill.

The dissent among high-profile Tories highlights discontent with Mr Sunak’s leadership and posturing as his party languishes in the polls ahead of the upcoming general election.

“The principle of equality under the law is a fundamental one. It underpins many of my personal beliefs,” Ms Badenoch wrote on X ahead of the vote.

The intervention by serving ministers comes after several senior Tories, including former Prime Minister

Liz Truss, said they would not back the Bill due to concerns about freedom of personal choice.

The division list showed 57 Conservative MPs voted against giving the Tobacco and Vapes Bill a second reading, while 178 voted to support it. Penny Mordaunt, the Leader of the House of Commons, was among 106 Tory MPs listed as having “no vote recorded”.