Senior nurses back smoking ban as Sunak faces rebellion over bill

The UK’s four leading nurses have urged MPs to back Rishi Sunak’s ban on smoking as it comes to the House of Commons.

The chief nursing officers of England, Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland have published an open letter ahead of today’s vote on whether to approve the legislation.

The Prime Minister is facing the opposition of multiple Conservative MPs, including Liz Truss, after declaring that the motion would be a free vote.

In an unusual intervention, the four chief nursing officers said they were in favour of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.

They wrote in the open letter: “As nurses and midwives, we have witnessed the huge harm and devastation that smoking causes for individuals, families and society as a whole as a result of preventable illness, death and health inequalities.

“As the Tobacco and Vapes Bill starts to be debated within Parliament, we would like to set out our professional position. We strongly support political parties from all four nations to provide their full backing for a smoke-free generation.

“As a group of professions who commit to helping others, we now look for action which will prevent ill health, death, reduce health inequalities and the unnecessary suffering of thousands of people now and for our future generations.”

The bill would dictate that anyone born after 1 January 2009 will never be able to buy tobacco – meaning that from 2027 onwards, the legal smoking age would gradually increase.

It would also restrict the variety of flavours that vapes can be sold in and control the way they are packaged

Professor Sir Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, said the law would “have a substantial impact – preventing disease, disability and premature deaths”.

and marketed in an attempt to dissuade children from buying them.

The bill is supported by Labour, meaning that the second reading vote is highly likely to pass the Commons despite the looming Tory rebellion.

It is intended to ensure that current smokers are not penalised but that future generations do not start smoking, which Mr Sunak argues will boost public health without restricting anyone’s existing freedoms.

The Health Secretary, Victoria Atkins, said: “The truth is that there is no safe level of tobacco consumption. It is uniquely harmful and that is why we are taking this important action today to protect the next generation.”