Sunak faces 50 MP rebellion over smoking ban
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More than 50 Tory MPs are preparing to defy Rishi Sunak and vote against his flagship plans to ban smoking on Tuesday.
MPs will have a free vote on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which would bar anyone born after 2009 from buying cigarettes.
On Monday, at least three Cabinet ministers were debating whether to vote against the Bill or abstain.
One backbench rebel said they expected around 100 Tory MPs to defy the Prime Minister and vote against, although a government source said they expected the number to be nearer 50.
The Telegraph understands that, despite the Tory backlash, Mr Sunak believes that “sometimes you have to do the right thing even if it’s difficult”.
He announced the policy at the Conservative Party Conference last year and is understood to see it as a major part of his legacy. The Bill will raise the minimum age for buying tobacco every year to try to phase out smoking altogether.
Uniquely harmful
Victoria Atkins, the Health Secretary, who will introduce the Bill at its second reading in the House of Commons on Tuesday, said smoking was “uniquely harmful” and the Bill would save thousands of lives.
“Too many people know someone whose life has been tragically cut short or irreversibly changed because of smoking, which despite significant progress remains the UK’s biggest preventable killer,” she 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.
“This Bill will save thousands of lives, ease the strain on our NHS, and improve the UK’s productivity.”
‘Uniquely harmful’
Prof Sir Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England, said: “Smoking kills and causes harm at all stages of life from stillbirths, asthma in children, stroke, cancer to heart attacks and dementia.
“This Bill, if passed, will have a substantial impact – preventing disease, disability and premature deaths long into the future.”
In a letter to The Telegraph, a group of leading medics warned that smoking was piling needless pressure on the NHS.
The 32 signatories include senior figures at The King’s Fund, Diabetes UK, Alzheimer’s Research UK and the Royal College of General Practitioners.
They write: “Tobacco has a disproportionate impact on the most disadvantaged communities, putting unnecessary pressure on NHS resources, costing taxpayers money, and contributing to economic inactivity by causing poor health and premature death.
“Passing and implementing the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will be a legacy MPs can be proud of, supporting one of the most monumental public health interventions in decades.”
The Bill is almost certain to pass regardless of any Conservative backlash, as Labour has agreed to back it.
The Government’s working majority is now 51, meaning only 26 Tories would have to vote against the plans to leave Mr Sunak reliant on Labour votes. However, to force a defeat, at least 274 Conservatives would need to oppose the policy, subject to how other parties voted.
Victoria Atkins
Winston Churchill would see sense in smoking ban
Prominent Tory figures have described the plans as “unconservative” and “illiberal”.
Liz Truss, the former prime minister, has called the move an example of the “nanny state” in action and Boris Johnson has described the plan as “absolutely nuts”.
Rebels are thought to be split about whether to oppose the Bill outright or try to amend it. They will not have the opportunity to propose amendments until it moves to its report stage following Tuesday’s vote.
That means some MPs who take issue with the proposals in their current form might choose to vote them through initially with a view to demanding tweaks further down the line.
As a result, the full scale of the rebellion might not be realised until later in the parliamentary process.
